Northwood varsity football program suspended for rest of spring season due to injuries

Northwood players prepare for an early season spring game against Irvine. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Northwood High School’s varsity football team will not play the last two scheduled games of an abbreviated spring schedule due to injuries, football coach Michael Stewart and assistant principal over athletics Eric Keith said Friday.

Northwood was 1-1 in the spring season, which was scheduled to be five games. The Timberwolves lost to Irvine 32-3 and defeated University 49-2. The team’s game with Portola, scheduled for Friday night, was cancelled.

The cancellations mean that Northwood’s next two opponents, Laguna Hills on April 9 and Dana Hills on April 16 will need to find new opponents and will likely wind up with nonleague games if the spots can be filled.

“After a long period of reflection, we have come to the very difficult decision to suspend the last two games of the varsity football season,” Stewart wrote in a letter to Northwood parents.

Stewart, the first-year coach, added that the frosh-soph level will continue to play as originally scheduled.

“This was definitely a difficult decision as the coaches and players have put in so much work, especially during an incredibly unpredictable season,” Keith told OC Sports Zone. “We understand that this is in the best long-term interest of the program and we look forward to a return in the fall. We are grateful for all of those who have worked to make this season possible.”

Northwood was victimized by injuries early on. The Timberwolves lost starting quarterback Trey Littlejohn in a scrimmage, then more starters including standout Travis Arena in the game against Irvine. Also injured were Josiah Smith, Ahmad Kazi, Zack Maxwell, Ryan Kim, Preston Rossberg, Shaun Walkman and Aaron Levisee, Stewart said.

“Most of these kids start both ways,” he said.

Stewart added in his letter:

“As disappointing as this news may be, please know that this decision was not made lightly. As stewards of this program and most importantly, of your children, our absolute priority is to do all we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our student athletes. And in consideration of the current physical health of the program as it relates to injuries that create a lack of depth at all positions, we cannot in good conscience place our student athletes in situations that we are not fully prepared for.

“We are stalwart in our commitment to the long-term vision of the program. We consider this a short-term sacrifice to establish an even more stable foundation for what we earnestly believe is a championship-caliber program. We honor the seniors and their families who have given so much over the course of the past four years.”

Stewart praised the efforts of the seniors and indicated preparations will begin for the fall season, scheduled to start in August.

They will always be members of our football family and they leave a legacy that our underclassmen will build on as we prepare for what we hope will be a more regular fall season. And we couldn’t be more excited for the group we have coming back. In this abbreviated season, they have gained invaluable experience that will serve them well heading into the next.

“Northwood Football family, the future of this program is incredibly bright. We consider this is a temporary setback. We are being tempered and conditioned to face adversity head on and to learn how to overcome. We will use this off-season to refresh and renew.”

University and Woodbridge also cancelled games this week due to injuries. It is not known whether those two teams will meet next Friday at University as scheduled.

As a result of the cancellations, Portola will host Beckman and Irvine will host Inglewood Friday night at Irvine Stadium.

The football season, originally scheduled to start in August, was delayed until the middle of March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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