Barlow Leads Well-Traveled Woodbridge Past Pacifica

Woodbridge capped an unusual week that included a day practicing in Hawaii and another day traveling home with a solid 27-7 victory over Pacifica in a nonleague football game Friday at Bolsa Grande High.

The Warriors’ odyssey started with a trip to Hawaii, where they beat Waimea, 34-14, to open the season last Saturday.

Monday, the team began to prepare for the game with Pacifica while still in Hawaii. Tuesday was another story.

“This has been an interesting week,” Woodbridge quarterback Scott Barlow said. “I would have much rather been practicing Tuesday than sitting in an airport. But Wednesday and Thursday everybody focused really well.”

None better than Barlow, who completed 13 of 18 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns, including two scoring receptions by tight end Zack Foster. Barlow passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the victory in Hawaii.

Woodbridge’s defense was also strong Friday. Linebacker Rael Berkowitz had two sacks, Russ Rommelfanger and Shane Harris had interceptions and the Warriors limited the Pacifica offense to 62 yards rushing and no touchdowns.

Pacifica’s only score came when Joey Fuske blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone by Keith Townsend with 6 minutes 36 seconds left in the first half. It cut Woodbridge’s lead to 13-7.

“The defense bent in the first half,” Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson said. “But they picked it up in the second half and started to smack people.”

But it wasn’t all good news for Woodbridge. Defensive back and running back Shane Harris injured his ankle early in the second half.

The injury happened on a botched field-goal attempt by Pacifica (0-1), which started the second half with a 13-play drive. On fourth down, Pacifica holder Matt Reis had trouble with the snap and started to run around left end.

Harris was at the bottom of the pile of players that stopped Reis two yards short of the first down. He twisted his ankle on the play and spent the rest of the game watching while wearing an ice pack.