RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — One player dominated on offense. Another player dominated on defense. And Woodbridge dominated Santa Margarita.
Read more Bolsa Grande football’s playmakers take over against Savanna
In a showdown of two of the better girls flag football teams in Orange County, No. 5-ranked Woodbridge scored a decisive 46-6 nonleague victory over the host Eagles on Thursday.
Santa Margarita, which fell out of the county Top 10 this week, was down five starters who were at a week-long school event.
Santa Margarita coach Brad Finneran said it probably wouldn’t have made any difference after watching Delia “D.D.” Stone dominate on offense and Naiomi Tase dominate on defense with a record-setting performance.
Tase had the game of her life. The two-way starter caught a touchdown pass, but her most significant contribution were her school-record four interceptions. Three of those turnovers —including one that was returned 34 yards — led to Woodbridge touchdowns.
She said she had never had more than one interception in a game before beguiling Santa Margarita quarterback Elle Palmer.
“It’s rare that I get an interception in a game,” Tase said. “This game, our rush did a good job of making the quarterback panic and throw it up there.”
Stone, the Woodbridge quarterback, was just as impressive on the offensive side of the ball.
“I’m so lucky to have a blocker and a receiver like (Tase),” she said.
A sophomore, Stone frustrated Santa Margarita with her running and her passing. She ran for one touchdown (seven yards), to go ahead 19-6. But her passing is where she bruised the Eagles the most, as she tossed six TD passes.
“We’ve been looking at their scores,” Stone said, “we’ve been trying to prepare using film. But we’ve all worked very hard and that’s why we got the result that we did. I’ve been working on taking more time in the pocket rather than rushing out, and I noticed I had a lot more time because of my blocks … so I found more people.
Stone connected with Lauren Gagnier for a 33-yard TD pass to go up, 6-0, and connected with Laney Brucker for 5-yard score to make it 13-6 just two plays into the second quarter.
After running for a score, Stone passed nine yards to Loghan Everett, and two yards to Brucker to make it 33-6 at halftime.
Read more Villa Park football races past Lakewood after bus accident delays kickoff
She continued the onslaught by the Warriors with an eight-yard scoring pass to Tase, and a 10-yard pass to Everett.
The fourth quarter was played with a running clock and neither team scored.
The Eagles fell to 7-10 overall and will need to get busy if they are to qualify for the CIF-SS playoffs as an at-large team, which will require a .500 record.
Santa Margarita answered Woodbridge’s first touchdown with a 16-yard pass from Palmer to Gwen Julianel, but it was the only time the Eagles would get the best of the Warriors defense.
Finneran refused blame the absence of five starters — three on defense — with the result.
“I don’t even think it would have mattered the way we came out,” he said. “We might have been a little better on defense, but we have players who should be able to play the game but just didn’t show up. Coaching-wise, we have to be better as well, we’re not doing a good enough job.
“We’ve got to play better and smarter overall.”
For Woodbridge, it’s green-light go. The Warriors are 16-4 and just dominated a Trinity League opponent that, despite being down the senior starters, figured to put up more of a battle.
“It gives us confidence that we’re good enough to play with the better teams,” said Tase, a junior.
Woodbridge coach Mark Thompson knows his team can be better, and is optimistic about the future.
“Santa Margarita plays fast and they’re strong, so it’s good play teams like that to keep our edge,” he said.
“I feel we’re going to go deep in the playoffs whether we go Division 1 or Open. I think we’re on the bubble right now. This team still has more potential in them. They play for each other. Every person, no matter their role, does their best to help the team.”
Read more Dodgers clinch No. 2 seed, playoff bye despite loss to Padres
If Thursday was any indication, they might be playing together for a long time.