High School Football: Oilers dispatch Vikings

WESTMINSTER — Huntington Beach High scored on a stop-fade pass near the end of the first half to climb back into the game. The Oilers then used an explosive third period to make sure Marina faded away in the Sunset League football game Friday.

After trailing for most of the first half, Huntington Beach scored 39 straight points in a little more than 10 minutes on its way to a 39-21 victory at Westminster High.

The Marina defense stopped the Oilers three times in the red zone in the opening half and used a six-yard touchdown pass from Ian Green to Noah Holmes to earn a 7-6 intermission lead.

But the Vikings lost six fumbles, including two on kickoffs, allowing the Oilers to overwhelm them and extend their Sunset League losing streak to 58 games.

Huntington Beach’s Jonah Apelu returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown and the Oilers (4-3, 2-0 in league) cashed two other third-quarter fumble recoveries into touchdowns to fuel a decisive victory on a night its offense was merely adequate.

The Oilers were without junior quarterback Nick Welch, who broke his hand in the league-opening win over Fountain Valley.

Sophomore Arick McLawyer took over and helped produce 117 yards of offense, including 69 passing.

McLawyer hit sophomore Jeremiah Flanagan on his back shoulder for a 25-yard touchdown with seven seconds left in the first half to get the Oilers on the scoreboard.

McLawyer scored on a one-yard run that gave the Oilers a 32-7 lead with 1:47 late in the third quarter and Apelu’s scoop and score capped the Huntington Beach blitz with 1:38 left in the third period.

McLawyer bolted 98 yards with the second-half kickoff to give the visitors their first lead.

Senior Derek Thomas carried 12 times for 102 yards, including touchdown runs of eight and 27 yards as the Oilers produced 300 offensive yards.

They sputtered early, however, and Marina (3-4, 0-2), appeared intent on ending a three-game losing streak, a streak of seven straight losses to the Oilers, as well as the aforementioned league drought.

The Vikings stuffed one fourth-down attempt at their own eight-yard line, broke up a fourth-down pass from the same distance, and turned away another pass on the final play of the half after the Oilers recovered a fumble on a kickoff at the Vikings’ 20-yard line.

In addition to the turnovers, Marina’s offense was plagued by six sacks.

Green completed 13 of 25 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns, while Holmes finished with six receptions for 44 yards.

Sunset League

Huntington Beach 39, Marina 21

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Hunt. Beach 0 – 6 – 33 – 0 – 39

Marina 7 – 0 – 7 – 7 – 21

FIRST QUARTER

Mar – Holmes 6 pass from Green (Keidel kick), 1:45.

SECOND QUARTER

HB – Adams 26 pass from McLawyer (pass failed), 0:07.

THIRD QUARTER

HB – McLawyer 98 kickoff return (Reyes failed), 11:46.

HB – Thomas 8 run (kick failed), 10:36.

HB – Thomas 27 run (run failed), 3:28.

HB – McLawyer 1 run (Reyes kick), 1:47.

HB – Apelu 32 fumble return (Reyes kick), 1:38.

Mar – Malerstein 69 run (Keidel kick), 0:48.

FOURTH QUARTER

Mar – Savea 25 pass from Green (Keidel kick), 5:02.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

HB – Thomas, 12-103, 2 TDs.

Mar – Malerstein, 3-72, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

HB – McLawyer, 5-13-0, 69, 1 TD.

Mar – Green, 13-25-0, 108, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

HB – Flanagan, 3-33; Adams, 2-36, 1 TD.

Mar – Holmes, 6-44, 1 TD.