Oilers looking for healthy 2000 campaign

Mike Sciacca, Independent

A year ago, Tony Ciarelli felt confident that his talented

Huntington Beach High football team could go far.

And, Ciarelli’s hunches were proven right, as the Oilers won four of

their first five games and entered the 1999 Sunset League race with high

hopes.

But about that time, one foe Ciarelli had hoped to avoid crept into

the Huntington Beach camp and wreaked havoc on the team’s chemistry.

It was the injury bug, and it decimated a team that already had lacked

serious depth.

“That blew us out of the water last year,” Ciarelli said of the

injuries that kept several of his key players out of action throughout

the season. “It just seemed to deflate whatever momentum we had going

into league play, and we never recovered.”

The Oilers didn’t, and although still putting up a fight, went through

Sunset play without a victory, their 4-6 record forever having an

asterisk next to it, signifying the season that might have been.

But this is a new year, and the outlook for the 2000 Oilers is good.

One thing’s for certain: Huntington Beach appears to be a bigger,

stronger bunch.

“We have some pretty good size,” Ciarelli said. “We’re big up front,

have experience at the skill positions, and are strong on both sides of

the ball.”

In person, the Oilers, indeed, do look bigger than last year. However,

just like last year, Ciarelli is wary of the depth situation.

“We still lack sufficient depth, so our ability to avoid injuries and

stay healthy is crucial,” he said. “This group is well conditioned, so

we’ll see how it plays out on the field.”

Huntington Beach returns three players who received Sunset League

honors last year, and one of them, Russ Oschman, returns at tailback for

his senior year.

Another is linebacker/wide receiver Justin Keadle, whom Ciarelli

deemed a “team leader,” and also back along the line is offensive

lineman/defensive end Jordan Connolly.

The size comes in the form of Keadle (6-foot-3, 205), Connolly (6-4,

250), Brian Ruziecki (6-4, 255), Mike DeHart (6-4, 185), Russ Chemberlen

(6-3, 250), and John Niutapuai (6-0, 334).

“We should be a physical, aggressive team,” Ciarelli said. “We have

some solid veterans coming back, and combined with some talented

newcomers, I feel that we have the capabilities of being very

competitive.”

While Oschman will be the “go-to” guy, guiding the offense will be

senior quarterback Casey Ryder, a returning starter, who, Ciarelli says

“possesses a real presence on the field.” The O-line will be anchored by

Chemberlen, Connolly, and Ruziecki.

Added to the mix is junior Josh Morales, a transfer from Colorado,

whose performance during summer ball has caught the eye of the Oiler

coaching staff.

“He’s really lighting up the field,” Ciarelli said. “He’s one to watch

this year.”

There are no sleepers on Huntington Beach’s nonleague schedule. The

Oilers travel to Downey to open their season Sept. 8, and open their home

schedule on Saturday, Sept .16, with a 3 p.m. kickoff against Pacific

View league runner-up Hueneme. Next comes a home date with Capistrano

Valley, followed by consecutive games against South Coast League foes

Mission Viejo and Dana Hills.

Four of the Oilers’ five nonleague opponents earned playoff berths a

year ago.

“We have a very tough league and a very tough nonleague schedule,”

Ciarelli said. “If we can get through the nonleague portion of our

schedule without injuries, then I feel we will be very competitive in

league play. We hope to be competing for that third (playoff) spot.”

As for the Sunset League race, Ciarelli sees a balanced affair, but

gives the nod to Edison.

“I think the Sunset is the toughest league in Southern California,” he

added. “It’s tough from top to bottom, and we’ll need to be at our best.

Our season will hinge on being able to avoid injuries.”