Northwood defense delivers big-time effort in shut-out victory over Pacifica

Northwood players and cheerleaders celebrate after Thursday’s win. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

It took a little while for Northwood High School’s football team to get going Thursday night at Irvine Stadium.

But after missing three possible scoring chances early, the Timberwolves got untracked with two second quarter touchdowns and defeated Pacifica 24-0 in a non-league game to improve their record to 3-0 out of the gate.

The game was moved back a half hour due to excessive heat and the game-time temperature was about 90 degrees, which was within the allowable measurement to play.

The Timberwolves defense, as it has been all season, was outstanding all night, particularly against the run allowing Pacifica (1-2) only 60 yards on the ground.

“I’m really pleased,” said Northwood Coach JC Clarke. “Donald Longo has been the leading tackler and on the defensive line, Jacob Harper is really doing well on both sides of the ball as a lineman, he’s killing people on both sides just like his brothers did when they were sophomores. He’s a legitimate high school lineman and he’s pounding some people. Joe (Harper) is doing really good, Sun Tao is going really good and Quintin Lynch is doing really good.”

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Joseph Harper scored two touchdowns, one on a 2-yard TD run out of the wildcat in the second quarter. Following an interception by Cole Hidalgo Northwood QB Gavin Lounsbury connected with Jack Schultz on a 15-yard TD later in the quarter to put Northwood ahead 14-0.

Harper’s 6-yard TD run in the third quarter put Northwood ahead 21-0 and Hidalgo capped a big night with a 20-yard field goal for Northwood’s final score.

But it was the Northwood defense’s night to shine.

“Pacifica had one or two good playmakers so we knew we had to shut them down,” said Joseph Harper, who had a fumble recovery. “We played well in every single game, guys fly to the ball, we forced three fumbles, two recovered by us, we got an interception.”

Harper said Northwood has adjusted well to a new defensive scheme devised by Clarke.

“I’m so proud of how we run it,” Harper said. “Defense has been lights out.”

Offensively, Harper rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries. Junior Jack Brucker was Northwood’s top rusher with 108 yards on 18 carries.

Hidalgo had a big game with eight catches for 93 yards including a 36-yard reception and on defense, he had his first career interception.

“It’s the first big game that we really passed a lot,” Hidalgo said. “He (Harper) has had so many touchdowns and it’s going great. We’re running four different formations which we can line up and it’s working out. We can do various plays, like five yard plays or big 40-yard passes. But I think we have good enough skill and fast enough skill to beat all the DBs and all the safeties.

“It’s going pretty well so far. I think all of our skilled guys caught a pass tonight, so I think that’s the greatest part. Our defense is so good, we’re trying to match them.”

The interception stood out.

“I haven’t played much defense, it’s my first year playing defense,” Hidalgo said. “I loved that pick, that’s what I wanted in this game.”

Lounsbury, the Northwood quarterback, was solid completing 14 of 19 passes for 151 yards.

Pacifica quarterback Ethan McLaughlin completed 14 passes for 94 yards and had a number of catchable balls dropped. Mariners running back Michael Lee rushed for 48 yards.

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