Woodbridge ready for challenge against top-seeded Saddleback in CIF semifinals

Woodbridge’s football team takes the field for a CIF playoff game. (PHOTO: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Woodbridge’s football team has one more challenge in order to reach the CIF Division 13 finals when the Warrriors take on the top-seeded Saddleback Roadrunners in the semifinals Friday at Saddleback.

Saddleback is 10-2, Woodbridge 4-8 after a second half surge and strong playoff push.

“We are grateful to still be playing football this late into the year,” first-year Woodbridge Coach Connor McBride said Thursday. “Our guys have continued to improve each week and we are looking forward to the chance to earn our spot in the finals on Friday. It has been a while since Woodbridge has been in the CIF finals.”

McBride said the Warriors have plenty of respect for Saddleback, the Zeta League champion. Saddleback is led by quarterback Andre Scott.

“{It’s} a program who has found a lot of success this year,” he said. “Any program with 10 wins is definitely doing something right. They have a high-powered offense that puts a lot of points on the board. We are excited and looking forward to the challenge.”

Woodbridge is led offensively by running back Kayjahn Pitts, who has scored two or more rushing touchdowns in three of our last four games and quarterback Waylon Stone, who has thrown for more than 1,500 yards and has rushed for six touchdowns. 

On defense, Avery Hur has 72 total tackles to lead the team.

McBride said his team needs another strong effort to reach the finals against the La Puente-Montebello winner on the road.

“We need to continue to do what we do best and that is controlling the line of scrimmage,” he said. “We seem to be on the winning side of the scoreboard when we do that. Defensively, try our best to limit the big plays against an offense who scores as many points as they do.”

Rain, like last Friday, is possible. Saddleback plays its games on an all-weather turf field.

“Rain will always have an effect, but I would like to say we are experienced in that after last week,” McBride said. “Rain or shine, we will have a gameplan that we have worked to perfect this week in practice.”

Saddleback has won seven games in a row and Woodbridge has won four of its last five games.

Woodbridge is in the CIF semifinal round for the first time since 2021 when it lost to Quartz Hill in the Division 12 playoffs.

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