Northwood’s football players celebrate after Friday’s win over Rancho Alamitos. (Photo courtesy Northwood football).
Northwood’s football team opened the CIF Division 12 playoffs with a 17-10 victory over Rancho Alamitos Friday night at Bolsa Grande.
The Timberwolves (8-3) advance to face No. 2 seeded Laguna Beach (11-2) Friday night at Irvine Stadium. Northwood was making its first CIF playoff appearance since 2014. It’s the first playoff victory for Northwood since 2010.
Northwood trailed 10-3 at halftime against Rancho Alamitos (7-4). But quarterback Jaden Piazza had two touchdown passes in the second half to sophomores Travis Arena and Trey Littlejohn.
Seth Locke had an interception return to the 5-yard line before one of the touchdowns.
Piazza sealed the victory with two quarterback keeper runs and then the Timberwolves took a knee.
Piazza completed 18 of 35 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Locke had nine catches for 109 yards, Littlejohn had four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown, Arena had four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown and sophomore running back McCain Mole had four carries for 35 yards.
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