[New post] Woodland Christian football team shuts out defending state champion to win Division 5-A NorCal title
Shaun Holkko posted: "Professional wrestling icon Ric Flair once said, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man." The nature boy's famous quote could be interpreted in many ways. For example, to become champions, you have to beat the champions. The Woodland Christian High " Daily Democrat
Professional wrestling icon Ric Flair once said, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man."
The nature boy's famous quote could be interpreted in many ways. For example, to become champions, you have to beat the champions.
The Woodland Christian High School varsity football team have defeated defending champions in consecutive weeks and are now one win away from bringing home a state title to the city of Woodland. The ceremonial Gatorade shower that was dumped on head coach Michael Paschke this weekend was even colder but that much sweeter.
"It's a little frigid out here today, I didn't have another set of clothes. Last week I was just in a T-shirt and I knew that I had my sweatshirt. This is all I got tonight so it's going to be a cold night but I'll take it," Paschke said with a smile. "I don't mind too much."
The Cardinals (14-0) traveled 85 miles north up Interstate 5 on Saturday for a matchup at Orland, who won the CIF State Football Division 5-A Championship last year. Led by defensive coordinator Scott Wedding, Woodland Christian earned its seventh shutout of the season with a 28-0 trouncing of the Trojans (11-2) in the CIF State Football Division 5-A Northern Regional Championship game.
"They were a lot more physical than I was anticipating but our guys are just so tough upfront. As we have all year, we go both ways. They're subbing people in and out while we're just grinders. It's really paid off at the end of the year that we're also this physical," Paschke explained. "Man, it's so crazy. Last week all I wanted to do was beat Ripon! That was our whole year and all we were looking for. This week we were playing with house money.
"I always tell the boys, 'We don't want to waste opportunities in life.' You never know if you're going to get another chance and this might be our only chance to get NorCal and state. You never know, weird things happen. In life, take advantage of every opportunity that you get!"
On Aug. 18, the Cardinals were minutes away from their first loss. Now on Dec. 3, the only remaining undefeated squads in California are Woodland Christian and Serra of San Mateo.
"The Trojans came out very physical but we were expecting it though because we're a physical team as well," said junior wide receiver Devin Herrera. "One win away (from a state title) is a crazy feeling because not everyone can experience this.
"In the news we were projected to lose 31-28, so we played really well."
The Cardinals reached the red zone on the game's opening drive but turned the ball over on downs midway through the first quarter. Wedding's defense then forced a three-and-out by Orland. The score was knotted at zero after 12 minutes of play.
Woodland Christian junior wide receiver Devin Herrera rushes on a 2-point conversion attempt during a 28-0 win at Orland in the CIF State Football Division 5-A Northern Regional Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Orland. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Woodland Christian junior cornerback Ethan Johns tackles Orland senior quarterback Diego Rico during a 28-0 win at the Trojans in the CIF State Football Division 5-A Northern Regional Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Orland. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Woodland Christian defensive coordinator Scott Wedding talks to the Cardinals after winning the CIF State Football Division 5-A Northern Regional Championship with a 28-0 win at Orland on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Orland. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Woodland Christian senior left tackle Noah Rico blocks Orland senior defensive end Khalil Coley during a 28-0 win at the Trojans in the CIF State Football Division 5-A Northern Regional Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Orland. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Woodland Christian sophomore quarterback Isaiah Hunt rushes with a lead block from senior running back Robert Naschke during a 28-0 win at Orland in the CIF State Football Division 5-A Northern Regional Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Orland. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Woodland Christian began its second drive with excellent field position at its own 45-yard line. Senior quarterback Gabriel Sanchez returned to action Saturday evening and reached midfield with a 5-yard completion to Herrera.
Paschke ran a two-QB system against Orland, rotating Sanchez with Isaiah Hunt. The first highlight of the scoring possession came from the speedy sophomore with his legs. Hunt ran the option for 15 yards and a first down. Five plays later, the Cardinals returned to the red zone on an 8-yard pass over the middle from Hunt to Herrera.
Hunt then connected with sophomore running back Noah Hinkle for a 12-yard reception. Herrera capped off the drive by taking a direct snap and rushing 3 yards to the left into the end zone. Woodland Christian was called for a false start penalty before attempting the 2-point conversion. The Cardinals settled for the point after try, which was perfect by senior kicker Cristian Morales. Woodland Christian led 7-0 with 10:18 left in the second period.
The Trojans recovered their own fumble and were forced to punt after three snaps on the ensuing drive. The Cardinals ran six plays on offense, then Sanchez targeted Hinkle and was intercepted by senior outside linebacker Tucker Kampmann with 6:36 remaining in the first half.
Orland drove into the Woodland Christian red zone for the first time. However, the Trojans turned the ball over on downs. Sophomore middle linebacker Malachi Durham pressured senior QB Diego Rico to force an incompletion on fourth-and-8 from the 17-yard line. After five offensive snaps, the Cardinals faced third-and-5 at their own 36-yard line with 50 seconds left in the second quarter.
Paschke, the self-proclaimed Madden NFL master, reached deep in his bag of tricks to keep the drive alive. Hunt handed the ball off to senior RB Robert Naschke, who pitched it to junior WR Carter Lang running a reverse.
Lang proceeded to throw a pass to Herrera streaking down the left sideline. Herrera caught the pass and nearly broke away for a touchdown, reaching the 1-yard line on a 64-yard catch and run trick play.
"It was amazing! I got that ball, the line was blocking perfectly, I had nobody near me and I had time," Lang recalled. "I looked up and Devin was wide open. I was thinking, 'Please don't overthrow this!' I hit it to him and that pass was only like 20 yards but he got another 40 out of it."
Herrera took the next snap and pitched it forward to Hinkle who rushed in for the touchdown. Herrera was stuffed running a counter to the right on the 2-point conversion attempt.
Woodland Christian held a 13-0 advantage with 18 seconds remaining in the first half, which was the score at intermission. The Cardinals immediately got the ball back to begin the third period as Lang hauled in an interception. Paschke noted postgame that Wedding flopped his starting safeties and cornerbacks, leading to Lang lined up at defensive back.
"The defense was on point. They got behind us a couple times but they could not run the ball. This team averages 250 a week in yards rushing. Wedding is the dude for that," Paschke said. "Carter swapped with Devin and Ethan swapped with Noah. That's Wedding, he wanted all the run support up top and tried to cover the deep passes. I knew they were going to throw more on us because there was no way they were going to run on us. I knew they would have to go to the air and that's what we thought were our best coverage guys."
The two teams then traded turnover on downs. However, the possessions were polar opposites. Woodland Christian nearly reached the Orland red zone on its nine-play drive while the Trojans went four-and-out. Therefore, the Cardinals began their next drive with fantastic field position at the Orland 30-yard line.
Hunt began the drive with a 10-yard rush for a first down. A 19-yard completion from Hunt to junior WR Ethan Johns put the next play on a tee for senior RB Khai Brown, who ran in for the 4-yard TD. Hunt fooled the Trojans on the 2-point try.
The superb sophomore sprinted out to the right and appeared to be rushing, then threw before crossing the line of scrimmage to a wide-open Lang in the right corner of the end zone. Woodland Christian led 21-0 with 2:23 left in the third quarter.
Hunt rushed for 20 and 17 yards, respectively, to kick-start the Cardinals' final scoring drive. Hinkle caught a 14-yard pass from Hunt to enter the red zone. On third-and-goal, Hunt threw a 6-yard TD pass to Lang running a slant route and the PAT by Morales was good with 2:44 left.
Lang reeled in his second interception of the night 76 seconds later to put the game on ice. Woodland Christian was victorious 28-0 to win the Division 5-A NorCal championship.
"There was really good defense today. I feel like without that defense, we wouldn't have won the game. Our offense also showed out," Hunt said. "I would never think in my life that I would say, 'I'm gonna go to state,' and it's crazy to say that I am."
The Cardinals will travel down to Southern California for the state title game next weekend. Woodland Christian is going to play the champions from SoCal, Banning (9-6) of Wilmington, on Saturday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Kickoff for the CIF State Football Division 5-A Championship game is to be determined.
"It's going to be a moment that they take in. You never forget your last high school games. I can't imagine my last game being going to state for these seniors. We tell them, 'Hey this is what we're working for,' in May but to actually be here, very few people get to experience this," Paschke foreshadowed. "It will be the complete opposite next week, it won't be the ground and pound, it will be spread. I think we match up well stopping the run and pass. I think we'll be ready either way."
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