Oilers, Chargers to battle

The Huntington Beach High Oilers will battle the Edison Chargers Friday in the inaugural High School Cup presented by the National Surf League.

Starting time is 3:30 p.m. on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.

Eight high schools from Orange and San Diego counties will compete in the five-week event, with one “game” scheduled for each of the next five weeks. Competition during the first four weeks of the event will be held at different beaches.

In the format used for the competition, each game will consist of four quarters, complete with substitutions and timeouts.

“Our surf team is really excited about this contest,” Edison Coach Zoran Forgiarini said. “The format is something new, something different and it should be exciting.

“I’ve been coaching football here for the past 13 years, and the game setup, with quarters and timeouts, brings surfing into that realm.”

The winners of the Orange County and San Diego divisions earn a spot in the championship, which will be held at the Huntington Beach Pier on June 10, prior to the start of the second Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Surf Jam.

County schools entered in the High School Cup are Huntington, Edison, Newport Harbor and San Clemente.

Representing San Diego are Carlsbad, Point Loma, Torrey Pines and San Dieguito.

“We’re excited to be a part of it,” Huntington coach Andy Verdone said. “There’s a lot of strategy that will go on, and what’s great about it is that it’s a pure surfing contest. A team will win on surfing ability.

“What’s also cool is that the coaches can go in the water. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”