PHOTOS: Righetti ends Northwood’s bid to reach CIF state final game

Northwood players head off the field following Righetti’s second touchdown Saturday night that put the Warriors ahead 14-0. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Northwood’s bid to advance to the CIF State 5A championship game fell short Saturday night at Irvine Stadium as the Timberwolves lost a tough defensive battle to Santa Maria Righetti 14-7 in the Southern California regional title game.

Northwood finishes the season with a 9-6 record, won the Pacific Valley League title and notched its first CIF football championship in school’s history with a win over Long Beach Jordan last week in the Division 11 title game.

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Righetti (6-8) advances to the championship game next weekend and will play at Atherton Sacred Heart (7-7), who shut out University Prep earlier on Saturday.

The Timberwolves, who had won seven consecutive entering the game, averaged 36 points per game during the span, however on Saturday Northwood failed to generate any consistent momentum offensively and was held to one touchdown.

“Across the line, they did a great job blocking and their linebackers were very good,” said Northwood Coach JC Clarke.

“Three weeks ago, if you told me we would be playing in a state championship game, I wouldn’t have believed you, but if there is a silver lining in a loss, then I guess it’s we don’t have to take a 10-hour bus ride up north next week. However, when we wake up tomorrow morning, we’re still CIF champions. I’m proud of these guys. They bought into what we wanted them to do.”

Trailing 7-0 after three quarters, the Warriors tightened their grip when they mounted a 14-play, 72-yard scoring drive that took over seven minutes of the fourth quarter. Bradley Spence capped off the march as he took a reverse and raced into the end zone from 18 yards to give Righetti a 14-0 lead with 3:36 left.

But the Timberwolves battled back and scored five plays later when quarterback Eugene Miyata scored on a 1-yard TD run with 2:05 remaining.

Two plays following an unsuccessful onside kick, linebacker Daniel Kamel recovered a Warriors fumble at the Righetti 46, giving Northwood another opportunity. The Timberwolves moved down to the Righetti 27-yard line with under a minute to play, but Miyata’s pass down by the goal line was intercepted by Elroy Perez in the final seconds, securing the win for the Warriors.

“Their defensive line did a great job; they’re very skillful,” said Miyata. “Nobody thought we would get this far. I’m proud of this whole team.”

“We were underdogs all season and we gained valuable experience from playing in a game like this,” said Timberwolves defensive lineman Kaden Carter. “Our goal is to continue to get better for next season.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Righetti took a short Northwood punt and quickly marched 47 yards in three plays to take an early lead in the second quarter. Elias Martinez bolted up the middle 39 yards for a touchdown to give the Warriors 7-0 lead on the first play of the quarter.  

The Timberwolves offense attack struggled in the opening half as they could muster only 58 yards. Adam Harper, who appeared to have injured his ankle on defense in the first half, was held to 25 yards rushing on 11 carries in the first half. Harper intercepted a Righetti pass on the final play of the half. The Warriors weren’t much more successful as they recorded 100 yards in the opening 24 minutes.

Twice in the first half, Northwood had the ball within Righetti’s territory but both times they were turned back. On a fourth-down play midway through the second quarter, Miyata’s pass fell incomplete. Late in the half, the Timberwolves were on the move again but Miyata was sacked on a fourth-down play at the Warriors 42 and Righetti took over on downs. The Warriors led 7-0 at the break.

Harper wound up leading the Timberwolves with 55 yards rushing on 21 carries.  

“They kept getting first downs and running the clock and we couldn’t break them in the fourth quarter,” said Harper. “They were quick to the ball and they played a really good game. Overall, we had a very good season.”

“Our game plan was to defend number three (Adam Harper),” said Righetti Coach Tony Payne, a former Righetti player and alum. “He’s the best athlete we’ve seen all year and we knew he likes to cut back and I think we kept him in front of us and our defensive ends did a great job keeping him inside.”

Righetti, which captured the Central Section Division 5 championship last weekend, finished fifth in the Mountain League. The Warriors unlikely run to the championship started despite dropping eight of its first nine games of the season. However, Righetti has won five consecutive game and won the school’s first CIF title with a win over Liberty last weekend.

“We don’t apologize for being here,” said Payne. “In the Central Coast, everybody gets in the playoffs because they are so fewer teams than in Southern California. “We had devastating injuries and play such a difficult schedule, but we got guys back now and we hit our stride.”

RELATED STORY: Northwood Coach JC Clarke enjoyed the journey.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone