Jaden Piazza showcasing his multiple offensive talents as Northwood’s starting quarterback

Quarterback Jaden Piazza has shown he’s an excellent passer and runner. (Tim Burt photo)

Northwood’s junior quarterback Jaden Piazza has found a home at Northwood and the Timberwolves are thrilled to have him.

“It’s going great for me and for everyone else on the team,” said Piazza, who transferred from Orange Lutheran. “We started out a little rough trying to get the team chemistry together and by the time of the second and third game, I think we really found it and really came together as a team and found our chemistry and took off from there.

“There were a few bumps here and there but every team has their little adversities they work through.”

Piazza has rolled up some big offensive numbers and he helped the Timberwolves in a 21-13 Pacific Coast League victory over Irvine which clinched a playoff berth and led a comeback last week in Northwood’s 17-10 victory over Rancho Alamitos in the opening round of the playoffs.

Northwood is 8-3 entering Friday’s CIF Division 12 quarterfinal game with Laguna Beach at Irvine Stadium.

“He has really improved this season and is a great leader for us even as a junior,” said co-offensive coordinator Dan Selway. “It’s his first varsity season and we are trying to get better every day. The two things that stand out to me is that he has been at his best when his team needed him most, the big Irvine game and the second half of the playoff game have been his two best performances.

“Secondly, he is a great teammate and unselfish, he has played wide receiver when senior Tanner Buck had the hot hand (at quarterback) and he can play defense or punt…whatever it takes to help the team.

“His ability to impact the run game is a big weapon for us and he’s our leading rusher. And he has caught two TDS as a wide receiver. Coach (Pete) Mitchell Jr. and I can get creative with the offense and the schemes because Jaden is steady with the ball in his hands. As he improves his accuracy and decision making our team can be very good. The sky is the limit for him because he loves the game.”

BIG NUMBERS PASSING AND RUNNING

On the season, Piazza has completed 102 of 215 passes for 1,479 yards and 14 touchdowns.

As a wide receiver, he has five catches for 104 yards  and two touchdowns and he’s also rushed for 443 yards on 73 carries.

A couple games have stood out.

“The Cerrritos game (a 51-20 win for Northwood on Sept. 20) was a really good game and the Irvine game (which Northwood won 21-13) really spoke about our season and what we could do as a team, Piazza said. “We were underdogs coming in and that was kind of our ticket to the playoffs and really showed that when it comes down to it, we can get it done. Everything had to be perfect and everyone had to do their job and do their assignments.”

The playoff victory over Rancho Alamitos was also memorable.

“A couple of us struggled in the first half, I know I did but coming back after halftime, you treat it as a new game and come out and perform and forget about the mistakes you made prior; short term memory as our coaches like to say,” he said.

“That was a big passing game for me. I know the Irvine game was a big running game for me.”

HE’S EXCITED ABOUT PLAYOFF GAME

Piazza is excited about the playoffs, and what it means to the school.

“It’s really big for the school, and especially all the seniors, this being their last high school season, it means a lot for them, I think to go this far in the season,” he said.

Piazza said the players are looking forward to playing at Irvine Stadium Friday night.

“We’re going to treat it like these past couple of games,” he said. “We have to take everything that we do in practice and put it out on the field and execute and everyone has to know their job and their assignments so that we can stay alive another week.”

Piazza has been playing football since he was 6. He has another full season next year at Northwood, then can think about his future.

“I love the game so it would be amazing if I get to play in college too,” he said.

NORTHWOOD FOOTBALL TEAM MAKING BELIEVERS AFTER PLAYOFF VICTORY

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