Northwood players huddle up in a game last season. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)
Northwood High’s revised 2021 football schedule includes challenging non-league match-ups with Laguna Beach, Loara and Santa Fe, according to Coach Paige Nobles.
Under the CIF’s new plan, high school football has been moved from August 2020 to January 2021. But schools will need to have in-person instruction and local and state health officials will have to give approval for football and other sports to occur.
Northwood is scheduled to compete in the expanded Pacific Coast Conference, which will include Laguna Hills and Dana Hills.
“Northwood’s 2021 schedule is going to be very competitive,” Nobles said. “This season with the Pacific Coast League breaking off into two conferences will be very interesting and exciting season not only for Northwood but for all of us.
“I have added three new and very competitive teams to our pre-season this year. Coming out of the gate in week one will be against a very tough and competitive team from Santa Fe Springs, Santa Fe High School. Week two will be against Laguna Beach High School. Coming from Laguna Beach before coming to Northwood I know what I will be facing across the field.
“Laguna Beach’s head coach John Shanahan is one of the best coaches I have had the privilege to work with and I know he will have his team ready for a battle until the scoreboard reaches all zeroes in the fourth quarter. Rounding off my last newcomer to my schedule in week three is Garden Grove’s league champion and semifinalist in last season’s CIF playoffs, Loara.
“Loara is well coached by Mitch Olsen and watching what his team has done in the past few seasons he has turned that program around and I see great things coming from Loara. Weeks four through seven round out my pre-season with our very competitive and well coached PCL teams.
“Once conference play begins it doesn’t get any easier we open up week eight against the PCL champions Portola High School then week nine against Laguna Hills and week 10 against Dana Hills. Laguna Hills and Dana Hills both came out of a very tough conference to be placed in the PCL and I know both coaches very well and Coach (Mike) Maceranka from Laguna Hills and Coach (Phillip) Skinner from Dana Hills will have their teams ready to battle.”
Nobles said he was pleased to hear that athletic camps in the Irvine Unified School District will be allowed to resume after the start of school on Thursday, Aug. 21 under safety guidelines, including social distancing.
“I am very excited that the news we received last week being able to start our camps up once again is excellent news for all,” Nobles said. “It has been way too long that our coaches and players not being able to see each other and interact.”
2021 NORTHWOOD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(Home games at Irvine Stadium)
Friday, Jan. 8, at Santa Fe
Friday, Jan. 15, at Laguna Beach
Friday, Jan. 22, Loara (H)
Friday, Jan. 29, vs. Beckman at Tustin
Friday, Feb. 5, vs. Woodbridge at Uni
Friday, Feb. 12, vs. Irvine (H)
Friday, Feb. 19, at University
League games
Friday, Feb., 26, vs. Portola (H)
Friday, March 5, at Laguna Hills
Friday, March 12, vs. Dana Hills (H)
Send football news to timburt@ocsportszone.com
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