Woodbridge’s Ground Game Downs Corona del Mar, 13-0

Before Thursday night’s Sea View League opener against Corona del Mar High School, Woodbridge Coach Gene Noji told of his team’s plan to rely on the passing game to move the ball.

“Did I say that?” Woji asked. “Well, that was our original intent.”

After a first half in which the Warriors managed just 27 yards passing and 55 yards in total offense, Noji switched to Plan B. Woodbridge threw two passes in the second half, neither of which was completed.

But it was easy to see why Noji passed on the passing game. Six Warrior ballcarriers combined for 158 yards rushing in the second half to lead Woodbridge to a 13-0 victory in front of 500 spectators at Davidson Field.

Dave Townsend and Tom VanVoorhis alternated at tailback for the Warriors in the second half and combined to average more than five yards per carry to lead Woodbridge to a third-quarter touchdown and fourth-quarter field goal. Woji said Woodbridge’s offensive resurgence was no mystery.

“Obviously, the offensive line started blocking really well,” he said. “It doesn’t take an expert to tell that.”

Woodbridge (1-0, 3-1) took a 3-0 lead into halftime thanks to a 25-yard field goal by sophomore Jeff Smith. The kick came with 2:05 left in the first quarter and was set up when Corona del Mar punter Matt DuBow had the ball snapped over his head and was tackled for a nine-yard loss at the Sea King 40-yard line.

The Warriors got the game’s only touchdown with 3:17 left in the third quarter with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that was executed entirely on the ground. Townsend carried 5 times for 44 yards on the drive, including an 8-yard touchdown run on a pitch around the left end.

Townsend finished as the game’s leading rusher with 96 yards on 17 carries.

Corona del Mar (0-1, 1-3) changed quarterbacks late in the second quarter after starter Tod Bearbower completed just 2 of 5 passes for 23 yards and had 2 interceptions. Sophomore Mitch Melbon replaced Bearbower and completed 7 of 17 passes for 64 yards.