NOTES: Woodbridge ready for state football final, AD praises ‘exceptional leadership’

Woodbridge football players celebrate with 27-year-old Coach Connor McBride following the Warriors CIF State Division 7-AA South Regional against San Fernando at University. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Notes on Woodbridge’s football team, which takes on Redding Christian Saturday at 11 a.m. in the CIF State 7-AA final at Fullerton High School …..

To see additional photos, click on the first picture:

Final preparations

First-year Woodbridge Coach Connor McBride has been spending the last days of his first season with this year’s football team preparing for Saturday’s final against Redding Christian.

It will be Woodbridge’s first appearance in a state final for football. The Warriors are CIF Southern Section Division 13 champions.

“It’s a mix between making the most of the last week we have together, it’s been 16 weeks and it’s my first year with these guys, we’ve been together for 11 months, so we’ve been through a lot of things, a lot of highs and lows, we know it’s our last week of practice, so it’s special to us, we’re trying to make the most of it, but at the same time, keep our mind on the goal of reaching our goal and focusing on this team and putting out the best product we can on Saturday against Redding Christian, so it’s a mix of both business but also making the most of the situation,” McBride said Thursday.

McBride said his team is healthy for the game, which will be the final high school contest for 24 Woodbridge seniors.

Praise from AD

Woodbridge Athletic Director Ryan Brucker praised the efforts of the coaches and players this week.

“We are extremely proud of our Woodbridge High School football team for winning the Division 13 Southern Section title, the state regional game, and advancing to Saturday’s state championship game against Redding Christian,” he told OC Sports Zone in a statement. “Achievements of this magnitude are only possible through exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment and a shared belief in the program’s vision.

“The winning culture and positive environment that have taken shape within our football program are a direct reflection of the hard work, dedication, and unity demonstrated by our coaches, players, and parents. The passion and energy brought by Coach McBride and his staff have been second to none.

“The resilience and attitude of our young men, especially our seniors. have been remarkable, and none of this would be possible without the support and values instilled in them by their parents. Over these past weeks, it has been truly inspiring to witness our community come together, support one another, embrace challenges, and elevate the program to new heights.”

Ups and downs

McBride’s first year had some ups and downs. The Warriors started the year losing 35-0 to Calvary Chapel and to Kennedy 37-0. Then came steady improvement which showed in the Warriors 37-36 double overtime league victory over University. Woodbridge has won seven of its last eight games, including a 24-23 victory over Montebello in the CIF Southern Section Division 13 final and a 13-0 win over San Fernando in the CIF 7-A South Bowl game last week. The Warriors (7-8) have won five in a row.

Scouting report

McBride said the Warriors have plenty of respect for Redding Christian (14-0). The Lions advanced to the final with a 22-18 victory over Middletown in the Northern California final last week. The team has scored more than 50 points in four games this year and more than 60 points twice.

“I know they put up video game numbers,” McBride said. “They average 47 points a game and allow seven points a game and they have been dominant the whole year, 14-0 and they have not faced a loss yet. They have a high powered offense, we look at it as a big challenge for us but it is firing us up to face a team that we know has deserved to make their way to the championship, we’re excited to get our defense out there and attempt to stop a high powered offense.”

Early start

Saturday’s final will be at 11 a.m. at Fullerton which will be an adjustment for both teams.

“We have prepped this week, we did a morning walk through today,” McBride said. “I think my team is going to do really well, being flexible and understanding that things might shift around, but our goal stays the same in being 1-0 this week.”

Gibson affect

Woodbridge’s long-time head coach Rick Gibson has been an assistant on this year’s team and along with long-time coaches John Halagan and Cliff Nelson, has been instrumental in the team’s success.

“I’ve asked Rick a thousand questions this year and the majority of them have to do more with the administrative aspects, everything was brand new to me this year, so I reach out to him all the time and I apologized for asking so many questions, but he is the most caring, giving affirming coach there is and he has given so much back to Woodbridge and he has told me mulitple times he is here for my program to be successful. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything this year without him and he means a lot to this team and to myself as a coach.”

Community support

With all of the success, McBride said reaction from the Woodbridge community in Irvine has been off the charts.

“It’s been such a great week, we’ve gotten so much positive feedback and people reaching out, alumni, the community, news stations, journalists, Woodbridge Village, a lot of people are excited for Woodbridge football, I think it will do wonders for us next year, in more kids not only wanting to join the program but to be part of our success and support us and local companies want to be part of it, so it means a lot,” he said.

“I think it’s really going to helps us as a football program on the field, but more importantly in the community, a lot more people are going to tune in and pay attention to us, that ultimately is what leads us to success as a program.”

Jim Hill visits

Legendary sportscaster Jim Hill visited the Woodbridge campus Saturday for a segement that aired live on KCAL, Channel 2 news.

“I’ve always known of Jim Hill and my parents tell me about how special he is,” McBride said. “He called us and drove down here in traffic and said they were going to be live. It was a very, very cool experience, I didn’t expect to be this early, let alone this year. It was the same message I say all the time, talking about how impressed I am with the kids’ resiliency.”

Stone’s big year

Woodbridge’s freshman quarterback Waylon Stone got better with each game and has been one of the leaders in the team’s resurgence in the second half of the season and in the post-season. He’s been solid throwing the ball and running with it.

“He’s entered the big stage and he plays more and more confident, he’s talented in both throwing the ball and leading the offense with his speed,” McBride said. “You just see him become more of a natural leader as the year goes on and is able to control and be the leader of the offense each every week and he gets more and more confident.”

Waylon Stone has been supported by his father Shea Stone, a former standout quarterback at Woodbridge and his grand-father Bob Stone.

“I think what really fires me up about Waylon and the Stones is that they are just as Woodbridge as can be and as a coach who cares so much about the community, they do as well and they buy into every single week and every single rivarly, we played Irvine this year and they really cared about that because they are an Irvine family,” McBride said.

Waylon Stone’s sister, Delia, was a quarterback this year Woodbridge’s flag football team. She is also a freshman.

More standouts

A number of other players have been standouts for Woodbridge.

“Kayjahn Pitts, who we continue to lean on in the running game and David Bosley, who is probably our most valuable guy playing both sides of the ball, plays fullback and running back and is our leader on defense, he never comes out and our O-line, our O-line has been able to set the tone and control the line of scrimmage all year so we really rely on them, they’ve delivered each and every week,” McBride said.

Family support

Connor McBride will also be supported by his family, including his mother Kathleen at Saturday’s game.

“I have the same group of family members who come every week and about 90 percent are Woodbridge graduates,” he said. “Between myself and Coach Gibson and the coaches, and my mother, there are so many different alumni who have reached out and are coming to the game on Saturday ….. a lot of people are really excited about where we are and what we are representing community wise.”

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