December 22, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

FOOTBALL 2021: Northwood prepares to open season Friday night under new head coach

Talented senior Travis Arena leads Northwood’s football team. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Northwood High’s football team is preparing to meet crosstown rival Woodbridge Friday night in the Pacific Coast Conference opener under first-year head coach Michael Stewart.

The game at University will be the first of six in an abbreviated schedule. No CIF playoffs will be held this year.

“We hope to give our kids the best experience possible after enduring this long, tenuous process,” said Stewart. “They deserve to get the chance to play and compete. It is so beneficial for their social and emotional needs.”

Northwood’s top returning players include senior wide receiver/defensive end Travis Arena; senior wide receiver/defensive back Trey Littlejohn, senior offensive/defensive lineman Rayon Garzan; senior wide receiver/linebacker Nathan Maloney; senior linebacker Max Tait and sophomore running back/linebacker Adam Harper.

The top newcomers for the Timberwolves are senior wide receiver/defensive back Josiah Smith, sophomore quarterback/defensive back Andrew Penrod and sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Dominic Cotton.

TIMBERWOLVES’ SCHEDULE

Friday, March 12, Northwood vs. Woodbridge at University

Friday, March 19, Irvine vs. Northwood at Irvine Stadium

Friday, March 26, Northwood at University

Friday, April 2, Portola vs. Northwood at Irvine Stadium

Friday, April 9, Northwood at Laguna Hills

Friday, April 16, Dana Hills vs. Northwood at Irvine Stadium

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com