Northwood’s Adam Harper stars but teammates provide a lift in win over Woodbridge

Northwood Coach JC Clarke talks to his players after Friday’s game. (Photos: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

Like many games last season, Northwood senior running back Adam Harper was the star Friday night.

But Harper had some help from his friends, including his younger brother Joseph Harper in Northwood’s 21-7 non-league victory over Woodridge in the season opener for both teams at Portola.

Adam Harper rushed for 142 yards and scored on a 11-yard TD run with 5:11 remaining in the game to put the Timberwolves up by two touchdowns.

But his younger brother hauled in a 27-yard TD catch on a halfback option pass from his older brother in the second quarter and had the biggest defensive play in the final quarter when he pressured Woodbridge quarterback Edward Ma, forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter.

Woodbridge was moving the ball and had the ball at the Northwood 25 when Joseph Harper forced the fumble. Northwood lineman Tao Sun scooped up the ball and bolted to the Woodbridge 31.

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Three plays later, Adam Harper scored the TD and quarterback Eugene Miyata connected with Joseph Harper on a two-point conversion.

“It was getting a little scary and they were driving and picking us apart, but we were patient and that’s what our game plan was to not give up big plays,” said Adam Harper, who also plays defense. “My brother was able to force a fumble loose and another sophomore Tao, a young guy, was able to fall on the ball and get us in great field position. It was real big for us.”

Adam Harper said the Timberwolves, coming off their first CIF championship, were expecting a battle.

“We knew they were going to come at us, they had a great game plan from the start,” he said. “But we knew this year we were going to have too switch it up a little bit and kind of spread our offense out and not be so run heavy and I think we finally toward the end of the game we were able to power through and go back to do what we do best, which is run the ball.”

Ma, who passed for 145 yards with one interception, gave the Warriors a shot at a comeback when he connected with Daniel Goodrich on a 3-yard TD pass with 5:33 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 13-7.

Northwood set the tone on its first drive when quarterback Eugene Miyata connected with Ahmad Kazi on a 1-yard TD pass after Harper was stopped on third down. Miyata wound up passing for 45 yards with an interception.

Northwood Coach JC Clarke was pleased with the effort of the Timberwolves offensive line, which was inexperienced going into the season and lost two starters to injuries.

“The young guys came in and played on the offensive line,” Clarke said. “They did OK and of course Adam changes the game with the things he does. But our guys dug it out, I’m real proud of them, that’s the best swarming (defense) we’ve had around here in a while, that’s what I like.”

Northwood was stingy against Woodbridge’s running game. But Warriors receivers Goodrich (six catches for 74 yards) and Zachary Felix (four for 54) had big games.

“I thought our guys showed a lot of fight, that’s a good team over there,” said Woodbridge Coach Aaron Craver. “They went to the state championship last year. Of course, we want to come away with the victory; it didn’t happen. We had a lot of plays that we could have made but didn’t make them and that’s what football is. They made more plays than we did, key plays.

“We had a lot of new guys in there to evaluate, I saw some good things. I’m not happy with the outcome but I’m happy with some of our performances.”

The game gives Northwood a boost in the race for the Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy, which goes to the top team in Irvine based on intra-city games.

Irvine, which defeated Portola 31-10 Friday, won the Fence Post last year.

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