PHOTOS: Northwood tops Woodbridge 21-14 for first victory over Warriors since 2012

Northwood quartertback Jaden Piazza drops back to pass Friday night under a heavy rush by Woodbridge. (Photos Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Northwood’s football team pulled out all the stops Friday night for a Pacific Coast League showdown against Woodbridge.

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It all paid off in the end as the Timberwolves held on for a 21-14 victory over the Warriors at Irvine Stadium. It was Northwood’s first victory over Woodbridge since 2012 and the Timberwolves celebrated in front of their home fans.

“It’s been a struggle for the program but the monkey has kind of been lifted off our back,” said Northwood Coach Paige Nobles. “To get a win from such a successful coach like Rick Gibson (of Woodbridge) is amazing. I look up to him and I respect him so much.”

Nobles said his squad went into the game with some options.

“We put in a couple new plays but we weren’t sure if we were going to use them this week or next week.,” he said. “But Dan (Selway, offensive coordinator) and I talking on the headsets, we said, ‘just go for it.’ I said, ‘we will show it early,’ and we will think of something else against Portola (next week).”

The victory helped Northwood (6-1, 2-0) remain tied for first place with Portola, which defeated University 46-14 Friday night. Portola is also 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the PCL and hosts Northwood next Friday night.

Northwood used trick plays, including flea flickers and even used quarterback Jaden Piazza on the defensive line. Piazza, Xavier Cousar and others made their presence felt pressuring Woodbridge quarterback Tate Smith.

Piazza also completed 7 of 17 passes for 68 yards and two TD passes (two interceptions) and rushed for 46 yards and scored on a TD run.

Smith passed for 116 yards and helped the Warriors advance to the Northwood 23-yard line with under a minute left. But a pass in the end zone fell incomplete and Northwood was able to run out the clock.

“I actually turned around because I didn’t want to see the last two plays go in the end zone,” Nobles said. “I didn’t look, but with the roar of our crowd, I knew it was in our favor.”

“This game meant almost everything,” Piazza said. “We haven’t beat Woodbridge since 2012. And coming in here knowing we could do something great like that for the history of the school was really great and it definitely boosts our players for the idea of the league championship and it boosts the whole morale of the team.”

It was a rough outing for Woodbridge (2-5, 1-1). The Warriors turned the ball over three times on fumbles and also had key penalties.

“They were better than us,” said Gibson, the Woodbridge coach. “We had a horrible week of practice. I don’t have any explanations other than it was just a horrible week of practice and I don’t understand it. I guess it may have to do you think you didn’t lose a game last year (in league) and you think by default you’re going to win every game and my hats off, Northwood beat us, flat out all over the field they beat us.”

Piazza connected with Trey Littlejohn on a 10- yard TD pass in the first quarter to give Northwood a 7-0 lead and it was the start of a big night for Northwood.

Woodbridge came back to tie the game when Smith hit Justin Morgan on a 33-yard TD pass later in the quarter. Northwood regained the lead when Piazza scored on a 1-yard TD run with 6:45 left in the second quarter.

Piazza then found Jackson Baker on a 13-yard TD pass late in the third quarter to put the Timberwolves ahead 21-7.

It seemed that Northwood was in control but Woodbridge took advantage of several key penalties on Northwood to drive for a score, a 1-yard TD run by Smith with 3:41 left.

The Warriors held Northwood on the next series and got the ball back for a chance to tie or go ahead.

The game would have gone into overtime if the teams were tied but Gibson said he was considering going for two points if the Warriors had scored.

Tommy Prince rushed for 57 yards on 12 carries for Woodbridge.

Northwood’s last win over Woodbridge was Oct. 5, 2012 when the Timberwolves won 21-10. After that Woodbridge won six in a row in the series.

“But this is 2019 and they beat us,” said Woodbridge’s Gibson. “I hope we recover from this. I look at that and as badly as we played, three turnovers and penalties in bad situations, we still had a shot at the end to go (tie or win).”

Woodbridge hosts Beckman Friday at University.

RELATED: Pre-game report on Woodbridge vs. Northwood

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