League race at halfway point

The 2002 Sunset League race will reach its halfway point tonight

on All Hallow’s Eve, and one school is looking to move up the league

ladder, while two others are searching for their first league

victories.

Outside the Sunset League circles, Ocean View steps aside from

Golden West League play to take on Rancho Alamitos in nonleague

action.

Tonight’s games:

Esperanza (6-1, 1-1) vs. Huntington Beach (4-3, 0-2)

(at Huntington Beach High, 7 p.m.)

The Oilers will have to come up with a magical effort if they hope

to defeat a very talented Esperanza team.

To make matters worse, the Aztecs will be hungry for this game,

looking to right themselves after last Saturday’s heart-breaking

16-12 loss to rival Los Alamitos, their first of the season.

Another loss and Esperanza can kiss its league title hopes

goodbye.

The Aztecs feature a potent passing attack spearheaded by

quarterback Rick Taloa who has thrown for 1,244 yards with 13

touchdowns and five interceptions. His main target has been Rick

Hill, who has more than 500 receiving yards.

Hill also keys a tough Aztecs defensive unit, and Shaun

Wildenstein and Michael Kirschner in the backfield give Esperanza

offensive balance.

The key to Huntington Beach’s success might be clock control. The

Oilers, who have played well in losses to Los Alamitos and Marina,

will need another stellar rushing performance from Patrick Harrigan.

The senior leads the county with 2,072 rushing yards in seven games.

Last year’s score: Aztecs 56, Oilers 7

Marina (3-4, 1-1) vs. Edison (2-5, 0-2)

(at Orange Coast College, 7 p.m.)

Marina can stay in the hunt for the Sunset League title with a win

over the defending league champion, Edison, and all but dash the

Chargers’ playoff hopes.

The Vikings’ Sunset loss came in overtime two weeks ago to

Fountain Valley, which, just last Friday, defeated arch-rival Edison,

28-16.

Marina paired a solid defensive effort with the two-touchdown

performance of Keith Heyward to produced its initial league win, a

14-13 decision over Huntington Beach last Friday.

The Vikings have scored 14 points in each of their two Sunset

outings. Edison, meanwhile, is averaging 15 points in league play.

Chargers quarterback Tommy Grady has thrown for more than 1,500

yards. His favorite target this season has been junior Matt White.

Edison will be out to end a losing streak after four games.

Last year’s score: Chargers 25, Vikings 7

The Chargers-Vikings Series

’74 Chargers 28, Vikings 0

’75 Chargers 17, Vikings 6

’76 Chargers 23, Vikings 0

’77 Chargers 20, Vikings 0

’78 Chargers 9, Vikings 7

’79 Chargers 34, Vikings 0

’80 Chargers 21, Vikings 7

’81 Chargers 28, Vikings 24

’82 Chargers 23, Vikings 7

’83 Vikings 0, Chargers 0

’84 Chargers 27, Vikings 14

’85 Chargers 51, Vikings 14

’86 Vikings 17, Chargers 7

’87 Chargers 21, Vikings 0

’88 Chargers 41, Vikings 0

’89 Chargers 20, Vikings 8

’90 Chargers 19, Vikings 10

’91 Vikings 15, Chargers 12 ’92 Chargers 9, Vikings 6

’93 Chargers 24, Vikings 7

’94 Chargers 26, Vikings 16

’95 Chargers 42, Vikings 19

’96 Chargers 41, Vikings 0

’97 Chargers 24, Vikings 7

’98 Vikings 26, Chargers 14

’99 Vikings 28, Chargers 20

’00 Chargers 28, Vikings 3

’01 Chargers 25, Vikings 7

(Edison leads series, 23-4-1)

Ocean View (1-6) vs. Rancho Alamitos (4-3)

(at Garden Grove High, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View takes a break from Golden West League play to battle

Rancho Alamitos of the Garden Grove League.

Both teams are coming off defeats.

Ocean View gave six-game winner Santa Ana, one of two unbeaten

teams in the Golden West League, all it could handle Saturday before

bowing, 35-27. Quarterback Alex Hickerson had a big night for the

Seahawks, with 211 passing yards, two touchdowns and a two-point

conversion pass.

The Seahawks will need to find a way to corral Tai Asoau, Rancho

Alamitos’ top running back.

Asoau has rushed for 337 total yards the past two weeks and had a

four-touchdown performance in a 28-14 victory over La Quinta on Oct.

17.

The Vaqueros are coming off a 26-7 loss to league rival Los

Amigos.

The teams did not meet last year.