Oilers showcase talents in Jr. Clinic Division victory

The Huntington Beach Jr. Clinic Division Oilers remained perfect on the season Saturday by shutting down the Corona Panthers, 39-0, in Jr. All-American Football action.

Last week, Huntington shut out the South Orange County Patriots, 44-0.

Taking a cue from Coach T.J. Fletcher’s pregame message — “Win your battle on every play and good things will happen” — the Oilers did just that Saturday in a game where nearly every Oiler carried the ball.

Huntington’s first scoring drive was set up by runs from running back Aden Eckenwiler and Lyrik Fata, which set up a 10-yard sweep by Dominic Peseti to the end zone. Peseti followed shortly with another touchdown run. Running back Blake Gilbert pushed through the line for the extra point.

Jonah Del Rosario, Nick Skorheim and Troy Fletcher added touchdowns.

Defensive Coordinator Dave Skorheim’s stifling defense, led by Jonah Del Rosario, Garrett Dailey, Jake Favazza, Luke Frederick, Marino Hernandez and Nathan Halloran, prevented the Panthers from getting a single first down. The Oilers caused five fumbles and recovered three.

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Clinic Division

Compton 32, Huntington Beach 6: The Oilers couldn’t overcome a poor start against Compton but rallied to play evenly with the Titans in the second half of Saturday’s game. Chandler Fincher and Ryan Rector led the rushing attack for the Oilers, who will attempt to regroup Saturday when they head to Long Beach to take on the Jackrabbits at 11 a.m.

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Jr. Future Division

Westminster 30, Huntington Beach 6: Tyler Rae returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to get the Oilers off and running, but the Lions came back to get the victory. Rae, Dylan Jacques, Nate Bowle and Ross Rector had key tackles defensively for Huntington.

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Jr. Midget Division

Downey 30, Huntington Beach 28: Huntington fell behind, 24-0, near the end of the third quarter but roared back only to fall short of catching the Mustangs.

Downey used its run game to bolt to the big lead, but Huntington adjusted and Oilers Danny Peseti, Andrew Stephens, Donovan Montoya, Dylan Izykowski and Cameron Renne shut down the run and forced the Mustangs to go to their passing game. A key fourth-down stop late in the third quarter by Samuel Harnisch set up a score by Cayson Fincher for Huntington’s first touchdown.

Another stop by the Huntington defense — this time by Valu Peseti, who broke up a deep fourth-down pass — set up the Oilers’ second score. Jordan Ball did the scoring honors on a run up the middle. Fincher led another defensive stance that shut down Downey’s next possession and the Oilers went on to score to make it a 30-22 game with 3:27 to play.

Downey couldn’t run out the final three minutes of the game as Huntington’s Dane Romberg came off the edge to record a sack on a fourth-down play. With 23 seconds left, Fincher ran right and as the Mustangs defense closed in on him, he pitched the ball to Ball, who then raced 50 yards untouched to the end zone. The Oilers went for two but came up just short of tying the score.

“How can you be upset with a loss like that?” Huntington Coach Kevin Romberg said. “You can’t. Twenty-eight points in the second half is amazing. We just need to be ready from play No. 1.”

The Oilers (2-1) have a bye Saturday but resume league play Oct. 8.

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Pee Wee Division

South Gate 19, Huntington 6: The Oilers couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities and suffered a loss to the host Aztecs.

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Pop Warner Football

Mighty Mite Division

Huntington Beach 24, Cypress 0: Christopher Soto again led the way, but this time he got plenty of help as the Huntington Beach Green Chargers beat the Cypress Centurions on Saturday at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress.

Soto carried the ball nine times for 102 yards and two touchdowns and also recovered a fumble to halt Cypress’ opening drive and set the tone for the game. The Centurions took the opening kickoff from their own 36-yard-line and went 34 yards to the Chargers’ 30. On fourth and three, the Chargers defense forced a fumble and Soto, playing safety, recovered the ball.

Soto scored on runs of 24 and 42 yards, the 42-yard run coming on a fourth and two when Soto took the snap from center on a silent count and raced up the middle past a stunned defense to score. Besides Soto’s yards on the ground, the Chargers (2-3) also got contributions from Ryan Karns (five carries, 38 yards), Shane Dzwilewski (three carries, 28 yards) and Nicholas Morrell (three carries, 26 yards), who scored the Chargers’ first touchdown of the game on a four-yard run.

Defensively, Mateo Lopez, Jake Brown and John Chandler were relentless and always near the ball, helping hold the Centurions to just two first downs in the game. Both first downs came on Cypress’ opening drive.

“Defense won this game,” Chargers Coach Dareld Karns said. “They were never close to our end zone. The defense stayed home and did their assignments. It makes a huge difference when you do what you’re supposed to do.”

All three touchdowns were capped by successful kicks by Cole Koffler, son of former USC quarterback Matt Koffler. In the Mighty Mite division, PAT kicks are worth two points. Koffler also just missed on a 28-yard field goal attempt.

“Another three or four yards and he would have put it in from 28 yards,” Karns said. “The coaches put their arms up for goal posts in practice when he kicks. It’s a great feeling to know he can do that. It’s another weapon.”

— Joe Haakenson