IRVINE – Woodbridge broke open a tight game with nine points in a 10-second span midway through the third quarter and beat Laguna Hills, 37-23, Friday night at University High.
After Laguna Hills (1-2) had scored nine straight points to get within 28-23 early in the third quarter, the Warriors responded.
Woodbridge (2-2) got two points on a safety with 5:19 left in the quarter, and then Alex Young showed his speed, returning the ensuing kick 75 yards for a touchdown.
“I am happy for Alex,” Woodbridge coach Rick Gibson said of Young, who was part of Woodbridge’s 1,600-meter CIF-winning relay team last spring. “I don’t think he knows sometimes how much talent he has. When he hits the seam like that there is nobody that can stop him.”
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VIDEO: Cox 3 Post Game Show: Woodbridge vs. Laguna Hills
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The Warriors dominated early on and jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Michael Pritchett had a 1-yard scoring run and then Pritchett threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Zach Kennedy.
It was a wild second quarter with the two teams combining for 35 points.
Woodbridge led, 21-7, after a 64-yard touchdown pass from back-up sophomore quarterback Chase Bradley to Kennedy with 9:06 left in the first half.
Laguna Hills didn’t go away, answering with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Sam Warren accounted for 52 of those yards on the ground. Warren scored on a 1-yard dive to help pull the Hawks within, 21-14, with 5:49 left in the half.
Woodbridge went up, 28-14, after sophomore running back Connor McBride scored from 1-yard out with 2:49 left in the half.
Laguna Hills came back with an 80-yard drive that lasted all of 1:24. Mark Hamilton snagged a 22-yard touchdown pass from Lucky Zuvich in the end zone to make it a 28-21 game.
Laguna Hills got even closer early in the third quarter. A safety after an intentional grounding call pulled the Hawks to within 28-23.
But Woodbridge held on.
