Another big challenge

Huntington Beach hopes to knock off No. 1 Edison a week after falling to undefeated Los Alamitos.Two local prep football teams who came up with big second-half performances a week ago clash Friday in the second week of the Sunset League football race.

Huntington Beach (3-3) hosts Edison (5-1) in the 32nd meeting between the two city rivals, a series Edison leads 26-4-1.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Sheue Field.

The game is billed as Senior Night for the Oilers, who will attempt to derail an Edison squad that comes into the meeting ranked No. 1 in the CIF-Southern Section Division I poll for a second consecutive week. The Chargers are riding a five-game win streak, and the Oilers are looking to end a two-game losing skid.

Huntington also hopes to pick up its first league victory. The Oilers came on strong in the second half of last Thursday’s clash with undefeated Los Alamitos but fell short, losing 45-35. That same night, Edison overcame a slow start in its showdown with Esperanza by scoring 28 points in the second half to come away with an important 34-21 victory over the host Aztecs.

“The kids made a nice comeback,” Edison coach Dave White said. “Esperanza controlled the ball in the first half, and we couldn’t do anything.”

Edison quarterback Brian Shrock, who was suffering from mononucleosis, shook off the effects of his illness to pass for 237 yards, including touchdown passes to Hunter White and Dominique Vinson.

Shrock also rushed for a pair of scores as Edison wiped out a 21-0 Esperanza lead.

“He was sick but did a great job,” White said of Shrock.

Huntington got an equally outstanding performance from running back Stephen Gabbard in its loss to Los Alamitos. All the junior did was burn the Griffins by rushing for 272 yards and five touchdowns.

“Huntington has always been good with the run, and this year’s team is no different,” White said. “They can wear on a team and control the ball. We’ll have to be ready.”

Last year, Edison defeated the Oilers, 49-10.

In other games Friday:

Los Alamitos (6-0, 1-0) vs. Marina (0-6, 0-1)

(at Westminster High, 7 p.m.)

Marina seeks its first Sunset League win, and the Vikings will try to get it at the expense of the defending league champion.

Balance is the name of the game for the third-ranked Griffins.

Their leader is quarterback Ross Hill, who threw for 225 yards and a touchdown and rushed for two scores in last week’s wild 45-35 win over Huntington Beach.

Marina is coming off a 30-0 loss to Fountain Valley, and the Vikings have not scored in their last three games.

Last year’s score: Griffins 56, Vikings 7

Estancia (1-5, 1-1) vs. Ocean View (1-4-1, 0-2)

(at Ocean View High, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View’s offense will be looking to exploit an Estancia defensive unit that has been on its heels the past two weeks.

The Eagles have surrendered 90 points in their last two games -- both losses.

In last week’s 40-19 nonleague loss to Garden Grove, Estancia was outscored, 20-0, in the second half and gave up 425 yards of total offense to the Argonauts.

Ocean View suffered a 21-14 loss to league foe Saddleback last week.

Quarterback Brandon Price rushed for both Seahawks touchdowns, and junior fullback Nhan Nguyen rushed for 138 yards.

Last year’s score: Eagles 21, Seahawks 14 20051020iokyjmknMARK DUSTININDEPENDENT(LA)Huntington Beach High’s Stephen Gabbard (34) carries the ball up the field between Los Alamitos’ Craig Chambers (6) and Tyler Smith (2) in last week’s game. Huntington Beach (3-3) will host Edison (5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Sheue Field. 20051020iokyj6knMARK DUSTIN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Huntington Beach’s Curtis Crandell (10) carries the ball through a hole in the line as teammate Jordan Marquette (60) blocks a Los Alamitos defender last week.