CIF-SS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIVISION 13
Woodbridge (5-8) vs. Montebello (7-6)
Where, when: Montebello High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Live coverage: NFHS Network
Outlook: Woodbridge is playing for its first CIF-SS championship since 1998, the year head coach Connor McBride was born. The Warriors began the season 0-7 and required a coin flip to earn a guaranteed playoff spot after winning two of its last three games.
Woodbridge had some players leave the team after the tough start, but McBride’s message to the team was clear throughout the season: “I’m not giving up on you guys.”
“After every single game I said, ‘I’m not giving up on you guys. Don’t give up on me,’ and they came in every week with the same attitude and were fired up each week,” McBride said. “It was definitely a struggle. I have a great group of guys who trusted me in that process and that means the world to me.”
Kayjahn Pitts has rushed for four touchdowns in the playoffs and David Bosley has rushed for three. Freshman Waylon Stone is a dual-threat quarterback who ran for a touchdown in the Warriors’ semifinal win over Saddleback and threw for 140 yards. Bosley also is the leader of Woodbridge’s defense.
“He is the vocal leader of my team. He plays over 100 plays a game and, knock on wood, hasn’t gotten hurt,” McBride said of Bosley. “Our defense is disciplined and knows how to stop the run. They have been the cornerstone of our team.”
Montebello won its first two playoff games by a total of four points and beat La Puente 43-36 in the semifinals. Donovan Murillo ran for 264 yards with four touchdowns in Montebello’s semifinal win over La Puente and he scored the game-winning touchdown with 44 seconds remaining.
Quarterback Joe Curiel has thrown for over 1,300 yards and Francisco Mirelez is his top target. Armando Bonilla leads Montebello’s defense with 134 tackles. Sophomore Giovanni Solorzano has 84 tackles with six sacks and two interceptions.
Montebello has never won a CIF-SS championship in the school’s 116-year history and hasn’t reached the title game since 1935 when it lost to Glendale 6-0.
Prediction: Woodbridge. Montebello struggled to beat Rancho Alamitos in the first round of the playoffs. Rancho Alamitos was blown out by Saddleback earlier this season and Woodbridge just beat Saddleback in the semifinals. Bosley can shut down Montebello’s running game and Woodbridge should be able to move the ball in a low-scoring game.