IRVINE – Alex Young made the play of the game, Connor McBride had another big rushing night and Woodbridge held off University, 21-17, Friday in a Pacific Coast League thriller at University.
The win secured second place in league for the Warriors (6-4, 4-1) and the Dennis Toohey Fence Post trophy for the second straight year. The trophy, handed out since 1978, goes to the team with the best record against city opponents in Irvine.
“I am very proud of our guys,” Woodbridge coach Rick Gibson said. “We really buckled down after losing to Corona del Mar four weeks ago. We could have went into the tank and we didn’t. This means a lot.”
Young, who has committed to Yale, tackled University’s Sam Winder just short of a first down on a fourth-down play at the 8-yard line with a minute left in the game.
Woodbridge ran out the clock after that.
The Trojans (8-2, 3-2) drove 92 yards in a little more than 6 minutes to put themselves in position to win. A 9-yard pass from Neil Boudreau to Michael Jung on third down moved the ball to the 9, but Woodbridge made the stop on the next play.
“It was in our hands,” University coach Mark Cunningham said. “I feel badly that we lost that game because they have worked so hard.”
Both playoff-bound teams came out flying on offense to start the game.
It took Woodbridge just three plays to get on the scoreboard. McBride, who finished with 241 yards rushing on 29 carries, scored on a 38-yard run.
University answered with a 6-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Andrew Campbell.
Woodbridge took a 14-7 lead on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Chase Bradley to Jared Kaleikini with 3:18 left in the opening quarter.
University tied it at 14-14 on a 5-yard touchdown run by Winder early in the second quarter.
Boudreau passed for 119 yards, and Winder finished with 95 yards rushing.
