High School Football Preview: Huntington Beach vs. Tustin

Huntington Beach (4-6) vs. Tustin (8-2)

Where/When: Friday, 7 p.m. at Tustin High.

Key Oilers: Sr. RB/DE Derek Thomas (73 carries for 407 yards and seven TDs; 61 tackles, 20 QB hurries, 15.5 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles); So. MLB John Gosney (64 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked FG); Sr. G/DT Jonah Apelu (49 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery).

Key Tillers: Jr. RB KC Carr (271 carries for 2,320 yards and 32 TDs); Sr. WR/CB Lomen Tep (four INTs); Sr. RB/DB Zechariah Savage (179 rushing yards last week against Western, four TDs this season).

Breakdown: Huntington Beach has been through a turbulent year, but it was granted entrance into the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs…The Oilers’ first-round game comes against Tustin, which had the county’s leading rusher this season. KC Carr rushed for 2,320 yards and 32 touchdowns this season…The Tillers give a complete commitment to the running game, with Tustin coach Myron Miller saying that every player besides the ball-carrier is a blocker in his offensive scheme…Huntington Beach has had three different starters at quarterback this year. Arick McLawyer will start on Friday night in his second game back from a biceps injury…The Oilers hope to be at full strength on the offensive line, but Ethan Gomes and Carson Renne are considered game-time decisions.

— Andrew Turner