Aliso Niguel Football won their first round of CIF against Lawndale High School 28-7 after losing to San Juan Hills High School 49-0 the week prior. The Wolverines finished third in the Sea View League and with their 7-3 record, qualified for CIF in the Southern Section Division 8. The Lawndale Cardinals finished 2nd in the Pioneer League and entered CIF with a 5-5 record.
This is the second year in a row that Aliso has qualified for CIF. In the 2022 season they faced off against Crean Lutheran High School in the first round where they had a devastating loss, defeated by only one point.
This year the Wolverines were determined to use that loss to motivate them. With a couple of players back from injury the team is ready for a second try in CIF.
Coach Calahan, the head coach for Aliso football, said, “We have a lot of guys from last year’s team and when you lose in the playoffs you learn from that, you have experience with that, and you understand what’s at stake. The kids took that to heart in our week of practice and how we prepared and it showed tonight.”
The Wolverines were able to pull ahead with an early lead with a touchdown from Jared Sabol (11), starting the first quarter 7-0. They built on that lead in the 2nd quarter when quarterback Hunter Najm (12) ran in for their second touchdown of the night, making the score 14-0.
The Cardinals were able to score their first and only touchdown of the night with a rushing touchdown in the middle of the second quarter, making the score 14-7 at halftime.
The Wolverines sealed the win in the 3rd quarter when Hunter Najm (12) threw to Aiden Gomez (11) who had an impressive one-handed catch to score the touchdown. The Wolverines scored another touchdown in the 3rd quarter, making the ending score for the game 28-7.
However, throughout the entire game what really stood out was the team’s offense line. Coach Calahan mentioned Raidon Jones (12) who has become a leader in the program. Raidon contributed the success of the game to the team’s defense and ability to stop the ball.
Jones comments, “I think we played great as a team. We had a lot of big stops and only let up seven points and one real drive. Our offense was cooking and we were able to execute at all levels.”
While it’s easy to get excited after a big win like this, Coach Calahan says they are going to take it one game at a time.
“When you’re in the playoffs each week everyone is 0-0 and working for that next win. It’s week by week just trying to go 1-0 each time.”
Looking ahead to the next round Aliso is scheduled to drive up north to Riverside County to play against Jurupa Hills High School.
