Woodbridge freshman quarterback Waylon Stone evades the pressure from Desert Hot Springs defensive end Isiah Flenor during the first half of the CIF Division 13 playoff game at University. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Woodbridge’s football team came through with a big second half defeating Desert Hot Springs 28-13 Friday night in the opening round of the CIF Division 13 playoffs at University.
Then, the Warriors celebrated on the field pouring a bucket of Gatorade on head coach Connor McBride, who celebrated his first win as a head coach.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
Woodbridge (3-8) moves on to the second round next week vs. Buena Park at Uni. Woodbridge was the No. 3 team out of the Omicron League.
“It’s well deserved, it’s a perfect representation of what’s going on this whole year, not finding too much early success, but finding it later on,” a jubilant McBride said. “My kids trusted the whole time and understoood they had to have a big second half and came out and trusted our vision and plans and our goals and succeeded where we needed to. I’m proud of them, they did not give up.”
The Warriors broke a 13-13 tie with two touchdowns, in the second half, including a 1-yard TD by Kayjahn Pitts with 3:35 left in the game that put Woodbridge ahead 19-13. Pitts, who rushed for 58 yards on 16 carries, also ran over for 2-point conversion to put the Warriors ahead 21-13.
Freshman quarterback Waylon Stone guided the Warriors had a big night, completing 10 of 15 passes for 91 yards and a TD pass and rushing for 48 yards on eight carries. He was injured after a big run toward the end of the second quarter, but came back into the game.
“He was battling through injury, he is the toughest kid I’ve ever met,” McBride said. “He battled through two different injuries, he got taken to the table twice, but still pushed through and put the team on his back and led us to victory.”
Woodbridge got into position for the eventual game-winning when it got the ball back on its own 28-yard line with about eight minutes left following an interception by Makai Davis.
Stone’s passes and some big runs by Pitts helped the Warriors get into scoring position.
“We trusted Kayjahn even through injuries and he delivered and he was running behind an amazing O-line and receivers, who block as well,” McBride said. “He’s been our guy to lean on this whole time, At Woodbridge running the ball has always been something we’ve found success with and we’re going to continue to do that.”
Pitts was thrilled to deliver at a key time.
“We started off rough this year, but I had to lean on my line, I trusted them and they got me in there,” Pitts said. “All credit to my line. It doesn’t beat my game winner against Uni but it’s close.”
As Desert Hot Springs was trying to comeback late, Hunter King had a 35-yard interception return for a TD to seal it for Woodbridge. It was King’s second pick of the night.
“He made the play when he really needed to,” McBride said. “It’s going to be a huge memory for us this whole time and into the future.”
Stone, the quarterback, was elated with the win.
“It means everything, I think we just had to do it for our seniors,” he said. “We wanted to give them one more game, it’s been a rough season. It’s good to get three wins under our belt and move on to the second round. I knew our O-line was going to help me out, our O-line has been balling out all season and and Kayjahn Pitts, I can’t say enough about him. He’s a power runner and he can do everything.”
Stone was pleased he could return to the game. Back-up quarterback Joey Coykendall came into the game and threw four consecutive completions for 32 yards at the end of the second quarter.
Stone came out but returned in the second half.
“I was hurt a little bit, but I had to get back in the game for our seniors,” he said. “I love this team, I’ll do anything for them.”
Stone connected with Jalen Webb on a 35-yard TD pass in the first quarter to put Woodbrige ahead 6-0. The Warriors missed the extra point. However, Desert Hot Springs tied the game 6-6 on a 13-yard TD run by Anthony Hodge.
Pitts scored on a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter to give Woodbridge a 13-6 lead but Desert Hot Springs (5-6) tied the game, 13-13, on Hodge’s 16-yard TD run with 1:46 remaining in the first half.
Desert Hot Springs quarterback Jaylen Turner led his team offensively, passing for 147 yards.
Webb hauled in five catches for 67 yards for Woodbridge.
The Warriors will now prepare for Omicron League rival Buena Park. Buena Park defeated the Warriors 22-14 during league play.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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