Woodbridge football shuts out San Fernando, advances to state championship game

IRVINE – From an 0-7 start to a CIF State championship football game.

It’s a story too fantastic to be true. But it is true.

Woodbridge will play in a CIF State championship game next week after it beat San Fernando 13-0 on Friday night in the CIF Southern California Regional Division 7-AA final at University High.

The Warriors (7-8) will play Redding Christian (14-0) in the state Division 7-AA game on Dec. 12 or 13. Sites for the finals are Saddleback College and Buena Park and Fullerton high schools. Dates and locations for the games will be announced this weekend.

Friday’s win was Woodbridge’s second shutout of the season. The other shutout was the Warriors’ first win of the season, a 35-0 victory over Katella in the Omicron League.

Including the win over Katella and the win over San Fernando, Woodbridge has won seven of its past eight games including last week’s 24-23 win over Montebello in the CIF Southern Section Division 13 championship game.

“Not one team has faced the kind of adversity this team faced this year,” said Woodbridge coach Connor McBride. “It shows when we win games like this. These are the toughest kids I’ve known, both physically and mentally.”

San Fernando, a CIF L.A. City Section champion, finished the season 11-4.

The Woodbridge defense had three sacks and two interceptions Friday. Getting the sacks were Cymon Blakey, David Bosley and Avery Hur. The interceptions were by Lucas Da Cruz and Hunter King.

Woodbridge senior running back Kayjahn Pitts rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

Blakey, a senior defensive lineman, credited the Woodbridge coaching staff for the team’s remarkable run. The Warriors have had some close wins, like a 37-36 league win over University, a 24-21 win over Saddleback in the CIF-SS semifinals and the one-point win over Montebello in the CIF-SS finals.

“They make us work hard in practice,” Bailey said. “And all we have to do is come out here and execute. They led us on the right path.”

Woodbridge scored on the final snap of the first quarter. Warriors freshman quarterback Waylon Stone threw to senior receiver Jalen Webb for a 6-yard score. An offsides penalty against San Fernando moved the ball inside the 2-yard line, so Woodbridge decided to go for two points. Stone’s quarterback keeper was stopped short of the goal line, leaving the Warriors with a 6-0 lead.

The Da Cruz interception set up the Warriors’ other touchdown that came in the second quarter. Pitts scored on a 17-yard run to make it 13-0.

San Fernando’s best scoring opportunity came in the third quarter. The Tigers had a first down at the Woodbridge 10. Two running plays netted 1 yard, a false start penalty backed the Tigers up 5 yards, another running play lost three yards and, on fourth-and-goal at 17, another run lost 7 yards.