Woodbridge seniors (from left) and friends Jacob Nash, Kyle Hurry and Elyjah Rush have been instrumental in the Warriors’ offensive success. The team captured the Pacific Coast League title and Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy. (Lead photo: Tim Burt; file slide show, Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Woodbridge’s football team has been looking to three seniors: quarterback Kyle Hurry and all-purpose players Jacob Nash and Elyjah Rush to carry the bulk of the offensive load this season.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
The players, who are close friends, are enjoying every minute of a season to remember for the Warriors, who won the school’s first league title in 20 years and the school’s second consecutive Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy.
“We go to lunch every day, we’re usually at my house or at the beach, just hanging out,” said Hurry, who also plays basketball for Woodbridge.
“We’re always together,” added Rush, who said the three often watch movies together.
Woodbridge (7-3 overall) takes on Temecula Valley in the opening round of the Division 8 playoffs Friday night at University and look for Hurry, Nash and Rush to try and make their share of big plays, just like they have in the previous 10 games.
KYLE HURRY, QUARTERBACK
Hurry is the Warriors’ quarterback who has been rolling up some big offensive numbers and thrown with pinpoint accuracy. He has passed for 1,606 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“It’s been exciting because we had a rocky start,” Hurry said. “Once league play came in, we went 5-0 so it’s good to get our confidence rolling.”
Hurry, who also plays basketball, has been playing with Nash and Rush since his freshman year.
“It’s so fun for me, because I just get to throw it up and they get to make plays,” he said. “They always know where to be and they’re always in the right spots. They know where I like it and they always just get there.”
After playing wide receiver last year, Hurry has stepped into the quarterback roll well, said Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson.
“Kyle took the unenviable position of replacing Nick Nash,” Gibson said. “And to take that and do what he did this year is borderline amazing in the sense that he had one interception in league and that happened in our last game on a busted route and he had four overall and 16 touchdowns, nine in league.
“You write a script and that’s exactly what you want. If you knew the kid, you knew he was destined to do that because he is such a great kid, wanting to be as good as he could.”
Hurry said the opener against Irvine, in which Woodbridge won 23-17, was his favorite game of the year.
“It was our most focused game and we played our best football that game,” he said. “That game is always a little bit close because it’s Irvine and it’s a little chippy but I think we played our most solid football that game.”
Hurry played quarterback in his freshman and sophomore years, then moved to receiver when Nick Nash handled the quarterback duties last year.
“I figured, since we had Nick there I had to find another way to get myself on the field,” he said. “Playing receiver last year has definitely helped me this year as a quarterback because last year I figured out the spots to get open and where the quarterback likes it. Now I know exactly how I like it because I played it.”
Hurry said Thursday the Warriors are now focused on their first CIF playoff game.
“I just want everybody to know that this could be it for all of us and this is it, so we have to leave it all out there,” he said.
Hurry said Woodbridge has to avoid mental miscues.
“If something happens on offense, or something happens on defense, we just have to forget about it,” he said. “We can’t get down on ourselves; we just have to move forward.”
Hurry said he hopes that football is in his future too.
“Next year, I definitely want to play quarterback at the collegiate level,” he said.
JACOB NASH, RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK
Nash has made many big plays for the Warriors as a wide receiver and defensive back. He has 139 yards rushing and two touchdowns and 836 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. He also has five interceptions on defense.
“It’s fun, twice the highlights,” he said of playing both sides.
Nash has enjoyed the season, playing with his friends Hurry and Rush and the rest of the Warriors.
“It’s nice when you get to play with teammates that are your friends because you have more of a bond outside of football,” Nash said. “It’s just easier to relate and help them when they get down or get excited when they’re up.”
Nash and Hurry have not only developed a trust, but an awareness of each other’s patterns.
“It’s better when you are familiar with your quarterback,” Nash said. “I know what his tendencies are and what he likes and what he doesn’t like. He knows if he’s rolling out to the left, I’m on the right.”
Gibson said Nash is strong academically and his football IQ is “off the charts,” who also gets some advice from his father, who has had an extensive football background.
“He’s everything on offense and he’s everything on defense and he probably could do everything on special teams, but we take him off on most special teams just because he does need a little rest,” Gibson said.
“When he comes off the field, he will mention some things that he thinks could be successful in routes that he’s running and more times than not, they work. He will be playing on Saturdays, just like his brother (Nick), if that’s what he chooses to do and he will be a success in whatever he does.”
Nash has also played basketball in previous years but said this year will focus on track in the 110 and 300 hurdles once football season is over.
Nash is planning to send applications out soon and said he hopes to play college football.
But for now, his focus and that of his teammates is on Friday’s playoff game.
“We need to stop their run, first and foremost,” Nash said. “Our practice this week has been the best practice we’ve had so far. So I know our offense should be fine. As long as we can stop their run game on defense, I think we will be fine at the corner positions.”
ELYJAH RUSH, RECEIVER/FREE SAFETY
Rush has known Hurry since the fifth grade and has enjoyed playing with both him and Nash at Woodbridge.
“It’s been fun, I’ve been playing with them since my freshman year since we first started grouping together and it’s been fun experiencing it, freshman, JV and now varsity and playing at the highest level about to go into playoffs,” said Rush, who will also be competing for the Woodbridge track and field squad this spring.
“It’s been exciting. I love celebrating with them when we’re in the end zone getting points and it’s always fun winning games too. I think our confidence and trust level for each other is very high. I’ve been friends with Kyle since fifth grade, so he trusts me and I trust him. He just kind of knows where to put the ball and I just know where it’s going to be.”
Gibson, the coach, said that Rush has many strong characteristics.
“Elyjah is an athletic and smart, intelligent kid, not just football wise, but academic wise,” Gibson said. “He brings to the table a lot of things. He brings an ability to learn something in a practice play and be able to turn it into whatever he turns it into to, which is usually very good for us. I think what I will remember most about Elyjah is his electric personality and his overall athleticism. He is somebody who will play on Saturdays if that’s what he decides to do.”
Rush and his friends have had much to celebrate this year, including another Fence Post title.
“It’s nice winning it again,” he said. “Coming into the season we were focused on a CIF ring because we were expected to win PCL, so we just came and did our business and took over,” Rush said.
Now, Rush and his teammates are preparing for the biggest game of their careers.
“Honestly, it’s just crazy knowing that this could possibly be my last game in high school,”he said. “But we’re just keeping our energy positive and being focused in practice, and perfecting all of our plays and coverages and we’re ready. We just need to play how we know how we can play and be the best that we can be because we’re unstoppable.”
Rush appears to have a promising career after he leaves Woodbridge.
“I’m talking to a few colleges right now but if I don’t get the offers that I think will further my career, I will probably just go to a junior college and see what I can do from there,” he said.
WOODBRIDGE GETS READY TO MEET TEMECULA VALLEY FRIDAY NIGHT
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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