IRVINE – Northwood controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, got a strong effort from its defense and made enough offensive plays to earn a special nonleague victory Friday night.
The Timberwolves defeated Laguna Hills for the first time in program history, 19-9, at Irvine High. Laguna Hills had defeated Irvine four consecutive years.
“We had never beaten them,” first-year Northwood coach and longtime assistant Dean Toohey said. “And I had forgotten all about that. I heard from (former Northwood and now Santa Margarita coach) Rick Curtis earlier and we were talking about how close we had been. It feels good. Our kids played hard. They really did.”
Northwood (2-1) took the lead quickly, using an eight-play drive, all runs, to go up 7-0. Spencer Tran took the ball to the 1-yard line with a 35-yard run off an option play, then Josh Liu dove in for the touchdown.
Laguna Hills (1-1) answered with a 37-yard field goal by Porfirio Hernandez to get within 7-3.
Northwood led, 10-3, after a 45-yard field goal by Chase Walmsley midway through the second quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Northwood quarterback Trevor Lawrence turned a blown play into a 69-yard touchdown run.
The two teams combined for five turnovers and two blocked field goals.
Liam Akiva led Northwood with 79 yards rushing, and Lawrence had 78.
Laguna Hills quarterback Lucky Zuvich passed for 169 yards.
