PHOTOS: Northwood clinches second place with 27-15 win over Irvine; playoffs next

Northwood quarterback Jaden Piazza drops back to pass against Irvine. (Photos courtesy Jim Tomlin, For OC Sports Zone)

Northwood High’s football team wrapped up second place in the Pacific Coast League with a 27-15 victory over Irvine Friday night at Irvine Stadium.

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Northwood (8-2, 4-1) is off to the CIF Division 12 playoffs beginning Friday night. Coach Tom Ricci’s Irvine team finished 1-9 overall and 1-4 in PCL play.

“Last night’s game against Irvine was a great game between two schools that know how to get after it,” said Northwood Coach Paige Nobles. “Coach Tom Ricci had his guys ready to go and battled us for four quarters. Hats off to Coach Ricci, his staff and his players. This Irvine team will be battling next season for that top spot in the PCL; you can count on it.

“My guys were also ready to battle for four quarters and battle they did. On offense senior quarterback Jaden Piazza had an amazing game running the T-Wolves’ offense. “

Piazza completed 23 of 34 passes for more than 260 yards and three passing touchdowns.

“Jaden connected to his favorite receivers Juniors Travis Arena, Trey Littlejohn and Nate Maloney,” Nobles said.

“Travis Arena showed once again last night why I think he is the best receiver in Division 12. Travis had 14 catches for over 100 yards with two touchdowns. Trey Littlejohn, showed why I feel his is a pit bull when he catches the ball. Trey had four catches for over 85 yards but those yards were hard fought yards. Senior Jackson Baker and juniors Nate Maloney and Ali Alasseel also got into the mix last night to keep key drives alive.”

Piazza also had seven carries and one rushing touchdown.

“Freshman Adam Harper is making a very strong case for any PCL honors as Adam carried the ball 10 times for over 60 yards and picked up key first downs when we needed them,” Nobles said.

“On defense my coaches JC Clarke, Dean Toohey, Brendan Geck, and Dave Harper had their guys swarming to the ball carries to make every possible tackle. Junior Max Tait was on fire with over 10 tackles and creating a lot of havoc and confusion when Irvine was on offense.

“Seniors Ethan Duong and Jackson Baker also had a great night getting in on almost every tackle. Junior Trey Littlejohn and freshman Andrew Penrod also had a solid night make key tackles and preventing critical first downs for the Irvine squad. Junior Nate Maloney sealed the victory last night with a late fourth quarter interception.”

Northwood will now prepare for the CIF playoffs. Pairings will be announced Sunday.

“After our victory against Beckman last week and locking in a CIF playoff berth last night’s game against Irvine was still a very critical game for us as we were fighting for a better seeding,” Nobles said.

“Being a first year head coach here at Northwood and going 4-1 in league and 8-2 overall makes me extremely proud of the team I have, the coaches I have brought in to make this team the team it is and the Northwood family that stands behind us and supports us every step of the way, you can’t ask for much more.

“Any time you can still be playing post season football is exciting. I am extremely excited to see who we get in the first round. I can assure you though no matter who we get we will not take them lightly and I can assure you my Timberwolves will be ready to go and fighting extremely hard every second of every play to secure that second round berth.”

Nobles also praised outgoing Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson and Portola’s Peter Abe.

“I also wanted to take this time to once again say congrats to a great coach and friend Rick Gibson on a great career,” Nobles said. “I also wanted to thank Coach Peter Abe of Portola High School on an amazing season and a well-deserved first (place) PCL finish.”