IRVINE – Northwood had just lost in the CIF Southern California Regional Division 5-A game when Northwood coach JC Clarke decided to look on the bright side.
“I’m glad I don’t have to take an eight-hour trip to Northern California,” Clarke said.
Plans for such a trip ended Saturday with the Timberwolves’ 14-7 loss to Righetti in the 5-A game at Irvine High.
Northwood wide receiver Ahmad Kazi, left, and Righetti center Isaac Ruiz, right, hug after Righetti defeated Northwood in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Andrew Penrod is left alone in the end zone after Righetti intercepted a pass intended for him in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Righetti cornerback Elroy Perez, right, slaps away a pass intended for Northwood wide receiver Ryan Kesler, left, late in the fourth quarter in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood Zach Maxwell, right, bears down on Righetti quarterback Abel Mccormack as he closes in for the sack in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood quarterback Eugene Miyata, tosses the ball away after scoring a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Righetti in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood quarterback Eugene Miyata, right, has his helmet ripped off by Righetti outside linebacker Zachary Monighetti before being brought down by Righetti Elias Martinez, left, in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. Righetti was called for a facemask penalty. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Righetti cornerback Elroy Perez, right, intercepts a pass intended for Northwood’s Andrew Penrodin, left, with less than two minutes left in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood Zach Maxwell, right, sacks Righetti quarterback Abel Mccormack, center, in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Righetti wide receiver Elias Martinez, center, reaches for a pass and almost tips it into the hands of Northwood linebacker Ryan Kim, left, as Northwood’s Jonathan Kangin, right, defends in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood wide receiver Ryan Kesler, left, gets his hands on the ball but can’t hang on for an incomplete pass against Righetti in the CIF Southern California Division 5-A championship football game in Irvine on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Righetti (6-8) plays at Division 5-A Northern California Regional winner Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton (7-7) on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. Sacred Heart defeated University Prep 20-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Northwood finished with a 10-5 record. The Timberwolves won the school’s first CIF football championship last week with a 37-14 win over Long Beach Jordan in the Division 11 championship game.
Saturday’s game, and the CIF-SS championship, were all bonuses in Clarke’s mind. His goal was for Northwood to win the Pacific Valley League championship, which the Timberwolves did with a 3-0 league record.
“I never thought about three or four more games and winning a CIF championship,” Clarke said.
Northwood had a late chance to extend its season for one more week. The Timberwolves in the final two minutes drove to the Righetti 25-yard line. An end-zone interception by the Warriors’ Elroy Perez ended the opportunity.
Righetti had a 7-0 lead at halftime. The Warriors increased the lead to 14-0 with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard reverse run by Bradley Spence.
Northwood made it 14-7 on a 1-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Eugene Miyata with 2:05 remaining. The score was set up by a 38-yard option pass from junior receiver Andrew Penrod to junior receiver Ryan Kesler.
Righetti’s first offensive play after that was a fumbled handoff exchange. Daniel Kamel quickly jumped on the ball to give Northwood possession at the Righetti 42 with 1:55 to go.
The Timberwolves, with the help of a Warriors personal foul penalty, advanced to the Righetti 25 where the chance was stopped by Perez’s interception in the end zone.
Northwood’s top offensive player, junior running back Adam Harper, who rushed for 214 and two touchdowns on 34 carries in the Division 11 final last week, was limited to 57 yards on 22 carries.
Harper, who also plays safety on defense, was injured on Righetti’s first touchdown, a 39-yard run by Elias Martinez during which Harper was blind-sided by a block. He arose slowly, limped off the field and limped again after his next carry, a 1-yard run.
Clarke said Harper’s production was off because of the Warriors’ excellent defense, not because of an injury.
“We couldn’t block them,” Clarke said. “They’re fast and they’re all in the right places at the right time. Everybody knows their job.”
Righetti took a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter. Martinez took an end-around handoff before cutting 90 degrees to exploit a wide opening in the middle for a 39-yard touchdown run.
