Chargers notch shutout victory

The Huntington Beach Green Chargers opened Pop Warner Football postseason play Saturday with a 25-0 shutout victory over Long Beach in a Jr. Pee Wee Division game.

Huntington’s other Jr. Pee Wee Division team, the White Chargers, also had success in their playoff opener and also won by shutout over a Long Beach team, winning 12-0.

Huntington 25, Long Beach 0

The undefeated Green Chargers exploded in the second half, scoring two quick touchdowns to turn a precarious, 6-0 halftime lead into a rout.

Robert Rice scored twice, and Seth Fox and Clint Jack also reached the end zone. The defensive play of Stevie Hernandez, Jordan Palomino, Dylan Sneed, Grant Horton and Brandon Bryson helped the Green Chargers record the shutout.

Huntington plays a second-round postseason game at 9 a.m. Saturday in Anaheim against the North Long Beach Blue Panthers.

Huntington 12, Long Beach 0

The White Chargers began their postseason drive with a hard-fought victory Saturday over the 49ers in a night contest on a muddy field at Garden Grove Park.

Jared Strickler recovered a 49ers fumble at the Long Beach 30-yard line midway through the first quarter to set up Huntington’s first score, Hunter Simmons’ rushing TD.

At the six-minute mark of the second quarter, Strickler and Sean Strom hooked up on a 60-yard scoring pass play to put the White Chargers up 12-0 at the half.

Huntington’s defense turned in a stellar stop in the first half, keeping Long Beach out of the end zone early in the second quarter after the 49ers had a first-and-goal at the five-yard line.

Costner Elroy and Vincent Zito keyed a strong defensive effort by the White Chargers.

Huntington, which has won three-straight games, has a second-round playoff date Saturday against the host Montebello Gold Sharks.

In other division action:

Midget Division

Huntington 26, Tustin 0

Neither rainy conditions nor the Tustin Cobras could stop the Chargers from recording their biggest victories of the season.

Fullback, Mitch Clark scored his first touchdown of the season on the Chargers’ opening possession. Nick Massania’s interception led to Donald Rice’s two-yard touchdown run, and Colby Labounty capped the first-half scoring with a 47-yard TD run.

Bryce Campbell returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown, part of a Chargers defense that smothered the Cobras.

Tyler Baker had two sacks, and lineman Eric Vogelsang, Curren Provost and Matt Weimer shut down Tustin’s running game.

Huntington ends its regular season at home against Saddleback Valley. Kickoff is 10 a.m. at Edison High.

Pee Wee Division

Huntington 22, Montebello 0

Huntington remained undefeated (6-0) and won via shutout again in disposing of the Sharks.

Huntington’s defense, powered by Elijah Herrera, Steven Tovatt, Trevor Borkowski, Tyler Macleod, Treavon Coley, Aaron Vargas, Andrew Mickle, Roman Smith, Matt McKenzie, Jake Dailey, Drew Ross, Darin Preece, Bradley Dominick, Trevor Jackson, Sam Doxakis and Charles Mendola, recorded several sacks and forced fumbles and interceptions.

The Chargers posted their opening touchdown late in the first quarter when Borkowski’s 18-yard pass to Coley resulted in Coley’s 45-yard score.

Early into the second quarter, Borkowski exploded for an 80-yard scoring run. Coley hit Macleod with a 25-yard TD pass in the third quarter to complete the scoring.

Macleod also kicked two, two-point conversions.

In all, Huntington’s rushing attack of Coley, Borkowski, Macleod, Tovatt, Herrera, Matt Oakley, Brodie Barton, Peter Russo and Andrew Bogard, amassed more than 380 yards.

Jr. Mighty Mite Division

Montebello 20, Huntington 12

The Chargers fell behind early but hung tough before eventually falling to the Sharks.

Montebello scored on its opening possession and took a 13-6 lead at the half.

Huntington’s lone score in the opening half came when Shaun Colamonico scored on a reverse.

Luke Hoggard, Austin Irvin, Alex Rostomian and Ryan Ruvalcaba provided key blocking for the Chargers in the first half.

Huntington drew to within 13-12 in the second half when Cameron Gonzales busted his way for a 50-yard run that set up a touchdown run by Zachary Edsell who scored on a quarterback bootleg.

Montebello scored late in the game to open up an eight-point lead and Huntington could get no closer.

Colamonico, Chase Ault, Kyle Scotia, Brenden Stajduhar, Jake Reidel, Griffin O’Connor, David Coulter and Joseph Flannery had key hits on defense for the Chargers.

Huntington takes on the Saddleback Valley Bears Saturday.