SEA VIEW LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Woodbridge Finds a Way to Beat Saddleback

SANTA ANA — The Woodbridge running game came alive in the second half and the Warriors defeated Saddleback, 17-7, Thursday in a Sea View League game at Santa Ana Stadium.

Woodbridge (4-1, 1-1) dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Warrior defense had nine sacks and running back Bill Atkinson had 143 yards rushing.

“The offensive line stepped up,” Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson said. “They didn’t play too well against Santa Margarita so we challenged them.”

Woodbridge’s Peter Watts recovered a Saddleback fumble on the Warrior 40-yard line to help set up the first score. Fullback Theo Wakefield ran six yards with 10 minutes and 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter, to put Woodbridge ahead, 7-0.

Saddleback tied the score, 7-7, when quarterback Daniel Ruvolo hit with receiver Paul Linares with 63-yard scoring pass with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter. The play was set up when the Warriors were penalized with a roughing the kicker penalty, which gave the Roadrunners a first down at their own 37.

Saddleback was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the extra point and the ensuing kick off sailed out of bounds, giving Woodbridge the ball on the 50.

The Warriors capitalized on the opportunity when Nathan Bennett kicked a 37-yard field goal, giving Woodbridge a 10-7 lead late in the third quarter.

Woodbridge finished the scoring when Wakefield scored on a one-yard run with 6:09 remaining in the fourth quarter.