LAKEWOOD – Northwood won the CIF Southern Section Division 11 football championship last year.
The Timberwolves moved up to Division 8 this season.
Division 8 was better. So was Northwood.
The Timberwolves defeated Lakewood 35-14 on Saturday in the CIF-SS Division 8 final at Lakewood High.
Northwood players hug and celebrate their big win against Lakewoods in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood team pose for a photo after defeating Lakewood in the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Andrew Penrod catches a pass over Lakewood’s Zion Smith for a touchdown during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Adam Harper scores a touchdown during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Lakewood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Eugene Miyata throws a pass as Lakewood’s Noah Mallon chases him during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwoods Adam Harper holds up the CIF championship plaque for his team as they beat Lakewood in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Adam Harper runs with the ball past Lakewood’s Anthony Winston Jr. during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Adam Harper hoists the championship plaque after the team defeated Lakewood in the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Kaden Carter celebrates his sack during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Lakewood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Ahmad Kazi catches a pass for a touchdown during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Lakewood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Lakewoods Kaleb Foster is stopped by Northwoods Andrew Penrod as the two teams battle it out in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood’s Kaleb Foster scores a touchdown during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Northwood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Adam Harper runs with the ball during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Lakewood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwoods Adam Harper breaks through Lakewoods defense as the two teams battle it out in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood’s Brayden Downen tosses the ball over Northwood’s JK Kang during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Lakewoods Brayden Downen tries to break away from Northwoods Joseph Harper as the two teams battle it out in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood’s Brayden Downen throws a pass during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Northwood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Ahmad Kazi catches a pass for a touchdown during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Lakewood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Ahmad Kazi catches a pass for a touchdown during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Lakewood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Andrew Penrod runs with the ball past Lakewood’s Zion Smith during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Adam Harper leaps as he runs with the ball during the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game against Lakewood at Lakewood High School in Lakewood on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)
Northwoods Kaden Carter tries to take down Lakewoods Brayden Downen in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewoods Zion Smith takes a moment as the Lancers are defeated by Northwood in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewoods Rahkeen Moore tries to stop Northwoods Adam Harper in the CIF SS Division 8 championship in Lakewood, CA, on Saturday, November 26, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The Timberwolves won the Division 11 championship last season.
Adam Harper, last year’s CIF-SS Division 11 player of the year, played like the Division 8 player of the year Saturday. He rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, a typically busy and productive night for the senior.
Harper is Orange County’s leading rusher with 2,360 yards.
Northwood senior quarterback Eugene Miyata threw two touchdown passes, one for 14 yards to Ahmad Kazi and the other for 82 yards to Andrew Penrod.
Harper admitted that the Timberwolves wondered if they would be as successful in Division 8 as they were in Division 11.
“After we won that first one,” he said, “we didn’t think we’d come back. We were bumped up (three divisions) and we battled through it and here we are. It feels great.”
Miyata enjoys handing the ball off to Harper and then watching to see what happens.
“He’s unstoppable,” said Miyata, the team’s starting quarterback last season, too. “Whatever defense he goes against, they can’t stop him. Whatever game plan they have, it doesn’t really work. He’s our guy.”
Northwood’s season continues next week when the Timberwolves (13-1) play in the CIF SoCal Regionals. The schedule and pairings for the regionals will be announced Sunday afternoon.
Northwood’s offense was more diverse, i.e. less run-heavy, this season. That showed up early in Saturday’s game. The Timberwolves’ game-opening possession created a touchdown with a 14-yard play-action pass from Miyata to Ahmad Kazi.
Harper, whose running style is equal parts speed, power and agility, went around left end for a 60-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.
Northwood’s third touchdown was an 82-yard pass from Miyata to Penrod, who pulled in the pass at the Lakewood 45 and ran the remaining distance unchallenged to make it 21-0.
The first half ended with a great goal-line stand by Northwood to protect its 21-0 lead.
Lakewood (8-6) scored on in the third quarter on a 14-yard reception by J.T. Dacoud.
Later in the third quarter Harper fielded a short punt on one bounce at the Lakewood 35 and returned it to the Lancers 3. Harper carried it in from there for a 28-7 lead.
Lakewood scored on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Bryaden Downen to Ethan Sharp to cut the Northwood advantage to 28-14 late in the third quarter.
Northwood’s defense shut out Lakewood the rest of the way.
Harper’s third touchdown came on a 5-yard run with 2:37 remaining in the contest.
JC Clarke took on the Northwood coaching assignment in spring of 2021. Justin Utopo was the Northwood’s coach for a few weeks that spring until he took the the job at Lakewood, his alma mater.
Clarke said this year’s Timberwolves are better than last year’s.
“The senior class, just tremendous kids,” Clarke said. “They come to work.”
Northwood was better this season, in a better division.
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