Woodbridge Defense Shuts Down Pacifica

Defense led to what little offense Woodbridge High mustered Thursday night against Pacifica, but it was enough to give the Warriors a 20-0 nonleague victory in the season-opener for both teams at Bolsa Grande High.

The Warriors (1-0) had only 115 yards in total offense, but their relentless defense shut down Pacifica (0-1), allowing the Mariners a mere 35 yards passing and 75 on the ground. Woodbridge also sacked two Pacifica quarterbacks five times and intercepted two passes.

“Our defenses over the years have been known for swarming and attacking,” Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson said. “It kept us in this game.”

Woodbridge scored its first touchdown with 9 minutes 52 seconds remaining in the second quarter, when quarterback Shea Stone hit wide receiver Brian Carlson on a 22-yard pass play for a 7-0 lead.

A Pacifica fumble on a Woodbridge punt set up a 25-yard field goal by Mike Guymon later in the quarter and the senior kicker added a 31-yarder with no time left to increase the Warrior cushion to 13-0 at halftime.

Another Mariner fumble, this one early in the third quarter, led to the other Woodbridge touchdown. Fullback Bill Atkinson capitalized on the mistake with a three-yard run five plays later for the final points of the game.

It was the first time Pacifica has been shut out since Corona del Mar beat the Mariners, 10-0, in the first round of the Southern Section Division VI playoffs in 1989, a span of 24 games.