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LONG BEACH — Woodbridge’s football journey under first-year coach Connor McBride joined distinguished company on Tuesday. It was a chance to reflect on a remarkable turnaround.
At the media luncheon for the teams playing this week in the CIF-SS championship games, the Warriors recounted climbing from an 0-7 start to reach the Division 13 final at Montebello on Friday.
The harrowing trek included consecutive shutout losses to open the season, an 0-2 start in the Omicron League and a few players leaving the team.
Woodbridge didn’t win its first game until two weeks before Halloween.
“It was a little discouraging,” senior captain and lineman Ben Jenkins-Amara said, “but we just kept fighting.”
In a hotel ballroom that featured Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer of Santa Margarita, celebrated coaches and touted recruits, the Warriors (5-8) took their place amongst the other section finalists.
Orange County also was represented by Santa Margarita (Division 1), Los Alamitos and San Clemente (Division 2) and Beckman and Brea Olinda (Division 8).
Woodbridge has reached the finals for the first time since winning Division 6 in 1998, the same year McBride was born.
The Warriors qualified for the playoffs by tying for third in the Omicron League and winning a coin flip with Buena Park and rival University for the league’s final automatic postseason berth.
“It’s been one heck of a ride,” McBride said on Monday. “We faced adversity and we did not let it shut us down.”
McBride described his team’s start as “frustrating” but knew the Warriors were playing a challenging schedule.
The first seven opponents of Calvary Chapel, Kennedy, Irvine, Northwood, Beckman, Portola and Pacifica combined to produced three league champions and three semifinalists in higher divisions. Calvary Chapel finished the regular season 10-0.
The difficult schedule, however, made Woodbridge better, the Warriors said.
“We slowly figured figured out as Week 2, Week 3 came by that it was going to be a difficult first seven games,” McBride said. “Each week we’d going in there and say (to the players), ‘Hey, we’re not giving up on the season. We have a chance to make playoffs if you trust in the process and continue to work hard.’ “
“My kids have done that,” the coach added. “The most admirable thing about this year is that the kids still trusted the whole process. They could have given up and imploded at any time and they didn’t.”
McBride, who at age 27 is one of Orange County’s youngest coaches, leaned on his veteran coaching staff during the stretch.
Rick Gibson, who coached McBride at Woodbridge, serves as offensive coordinator. Veteran assistants John Halagan and Cliff Nelson coach quarterbacks and defensive linemen, respectively.
“If I didn’t have (assistants) who were so bought-in to the Woodbridge community and the high school and history, it would have a lot harder,” said McBride, whose defensive coordinator is alumnus Brendan Beresford.
Woodbridge also has followed a group of 24 seniors, including several who play both ways.
The cast of seniors includes captains David Bosley, Jalen Webb, Larry Lloyd and Jenkins-Amara. All four were voted captains by their teammates.
Bosley, an inside linebacker, anchors the defense and plays running back.
Jenkins-Amara and Lloyd are two-way linemen along with seniors Noel Bang and Brady Beals.
Seniors Kayjahn Pitts (running back/linebacker) and junior Alexander Harris (fullback/defensive end) also play offense and defense.
The seniors have overcame a coaching change and controversial forfeit against Pacifica last season.
“We’ve struggled together. We’ve won together,” Jenkins-Amara said. “The bond allowed us to be where we are.”
The team features a freshman to watch in quarterback Waylon Stone. The son of former Woodbridge QB Shea Stone, Waylon Stone has been the starter since Day 1.
Since starting 0-7, the Warriors have since posted a 5-1 record, including a 24-21 victory against top-seeded Saddleback in the semifinals.
“I’m just thankful that Coach McBride has been such a positive influence on us,” Jenkins-Amara said. “Never giving up on us, even when we were 0-7.”
CARSON PALMER COMES FULL CIRCLE
Palmer experienced a full-circle moment. He returned to the luncheon as the Santa Margarita coach after once attending the event as a senior quarterback with the Eagles in 1997.
“It’s got a lot bigger and a lot grander and a lot more exciting,” Palmer said of the luncheon. “The game has grown.”
Palmer introduced players seniors Dash Fifita, Trace Johnson, Trent Mosley, Simote Katoanga and Niniva Nicholson to help set the stage for Friday’s Division 1 final against Centennial at the Rose Bowl.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Palmer said of his first season. “I don’t know if anybody would expect to be here but I walked into an incredible situation.”
MAZZOTTA TO FACE FRIEND IN FNAL
La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta will face a close friend in San Jacinto coach Aric Galliano in the Division 4 final at HCN Bank Stadium in Menifee on Saturday.
Mazzotta’s brother Casey, the football coach at Mt. San Jacinto College, has coached with Galliano.
Galliano also played for Mazzotta’s father Frank at Cerritos College.
“I’m really good friends with Aric,” Mazzotta said. “It’s like a family thing. I go out to his passing tournament every year … and we scrimmage him every year. The kids all know each other.”
SHORT ROUTES
Mazzotta can tie Bruce Rollinson (Mater Dei) and Bob Johnson (El Toro, Mission Viejo) for most CIF-SS titles by a O.C. coach with eight. …
Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton introduced running back/safety Lenny Ibarra as “soul of our team.” The senior is committed to Army as a wide receiver.
