Glory in the grunt work

Mike Sciacca

Theirs is the grunt work, the type of play that tends to go

unnoticed and without fanfare.

But it is their work that has helped the Huntington Beach High

football team post one of its most successful runs in nonleague play

in the last four years.

Center Matt Burger, right guard Derek Escobedo, right tackle Adam

Sumey, tight ends Andrew Mahlmeister and Eric Ruziecki, left guard

Dan Barrington and left tackle Blake Sorber comprise the offensive

line at Huntington Beach. They are the seven who have opened up big

holes this season for running back Patrick Harrigan, who is having a

senior year to remember.

Through the first five games this season, which marks the halfway

point of the regular season, Harrigan is the first local running back

to rush for more than 1,000 yards, his 1,252 yards tops in the CIF

Southern Section.

It’s a given that Harrigan’s talent and drive have been keys to

his success but it’s his offensive line that paves the way.

Their guts, his glory.

For their efforts, Huntington Beach’s front seven share this

week’s Independent Player of the Week award.

“They have been having a great year so far,” Oilers coach Mike

Groscost said of the offensive line. “They, along with fullback Jimmy

Niutapuai, have done a tremendous job in springing Patrick. It seems

as though our line is just getting stronger and getting off the ball

quicker with each game. They have worked their tails off since

preseason drills. Patrick does a lot of the work when he runs, but

our line is opening up the holes for him. A lot of times, Patrick

isn’t even being touched. That’s a tribute to our line.”

In last week’s 37-20 victory over Dana Hills, in which the

run-oriented Oilers improved to 4-1, the front seven provided

Harrigan with open lanes as the senior rushed for 315 yards and three

touchdowns.

It was the fourth time in five games that Harrigan has surpassed

300 yards rushing, Groscost said.