Woodbridge’s football team, coached by Rick Gibson, shown in a game earlier this year, lost to Temecula Valley 42-17 in the opening round of the CIF Division 8 playoffs (File photo Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Woodbridge’s football team had a rough outing Friday night, committing nine turnovers in a 42-17 loss to Temecula Valley in the opening round of the CIF Division 8 playoffs at University.
Temecula Valley (6-5) was an at-large team from the Southwestern League
Woodbridge has made it a habit of winning first-round CIF playoff games. Coach Rick Gibson said the Warriors have won nine first-round games in a row.
But the Warriors (7-4) who had won the Pacific Coast League championship, struggled against Temecula Valley, which moves on to host third seeded Santa Ana Friday night in the quarterfinals.
“We turned the ball over nine times and you’re not going to win too many football games doing that,” Gibson said on Monday night. “If we would have made them use the whole field, I think a lot better things would have happened.
“It’s not anybody’s fault. It’s a bunch of things that just happened and it just wasn’t our night. I don’t blame any players for it, it was just a compilation of turnovers. I don’t think we turned the ball over nine times all year and it happened. We had interceptions, fumbles and two mishandled kick-offs.
“One thing happened after another. I’m very happy with the effort they put in, I just think we put ourselves too much behind the eight ball. And that’s a good football team too. I think they’re going to give Santa Ana all they need next week. I think Santa Ana will win but I think it’s going to be a very tight game.”
Jacob Nash played a solid game defensively and also hauled in both of the Warrior touchdowns with about 12 receptions for more than 170 yards, Gibson said.
“He was a big source of our offense making things happen,” Gibson said.
Jakob Trestik also kicked a field goal for Woodbridge.
Quarterback Kyle Hurry passed for 285 yards but had four interceptions. He had thrown only one in league play.
“He had four interceptions all year and he had four in that game and some of it was trying to make things happen late when he forced them and he didn’t do that during the year,” Gibson said. “But it’s not because of anything other than his want to win. He battled all the way up until the final gun went over. He gave it his all and I was real proud of his effort.”
Gibson said he was proud of what the Warriors accomplished.
“Our goal is to be city champs and win league,” Gibson said. “In CIF, this is our ninth straight year in the playoffs and we hadn’t had a one and done in those nine years so it just wasn’t meant to be.”
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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