Ocean View football improves to 3-0, its best start in program history

Ever since Luis Nunez took over as coach of the Ocean View High football team, developing a winning culture has been at the forefront. Six years in, the program is beginning to reap the benefits of this mentality.

Ocean View defeated Garden Grove Santiago 35-20 in a nonleague game at Garden Grove High on Thursday night to improve to 3-0, the best start in school history. The victory also marked the Seahawks’ second consecutive win amid a five-game road stretch.

“When I took over, we were trying to build a winning culture,” Nunez said. “There has never really been a winning culture in Ocean View history. That’s something I’ve been preaching from my first group until now. Let’s start a tradition, let’s be great. I’m very proud of them. We faced adversity for the first time this season and responded.”

Ocean View sophomore Uriel Polo took the opening kick back 30 yards to the opponent’s 45-yard-line, setting the stage for junior quarterback Noah Hickman to launch his assault on the Santiago defense.

Six plays later, Hickman delivered the first display of his playmaking prowess — an untouched 32-yard scamper for the first score of the game. The touchdown run came on a zone read, a play that gave Santiago trouble throughout the evening as Hickman rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone.

Santiago (1-2) answered back immediately, with workhorse back Dylan Ourng exploding through the middle of the Ocean View defense for a 70-yard touchdown run on the Cavaliers’ first offensive play from scrimmage.

Less than a minute later however, Hickman took another expertly executed zone read 34 yards to the house. The Cavaliers got a hand on the elusive signal-caller this time, but Hickman hit the lone defender in his way with a stiff arm near the goal line before spinning away for six.

“They kept crashing inside and giving me the outside,” Hickman said. “I just kept taking what they gave me.”

The Santiago passing game showed some life with a 63-yard touchdown connection from Angel Tajimaroa to De Mondray Purnell in the final two minutes of the second quarter, cutting the lead to four points. But the Seahawks answered back with a 65-yard drive that culminated in a 31-yard touchdown strike from Hickman to senior wide receiver Adam Meyer with 11 seconds left in the half.

Hickman compiled 256 total yards and three touchdowns in the first half, carrying the Seahawks to a 28-17 halftime lead before cooling off significantly — particularly through the air.

Santiago opened the third quarter on a high note, and would cut the deficit down to a score with a field goal on the opening drive of the half. After forcing the first Ocean View punt of the night on the ensuing possession, though, the Cavaliers missed their window of opportunity.

Following a defensive stop, the Seahawks took control deep inside their own 10-yard-line and proceeded to ride senior running back Noah De Loera for five carries and 87 yards on the drive — including a 30-yard touchdown that crushed any chance at a comeback.

“Our small corners were playing them tight all night, with our safeties helping over the top. We did about everything we could on the back end,” Santiago coach Brandon Croft said, after his team held Ocean View’s star quarterback to only 17 yards on two of five passing in the second half.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, a well-rounded Seahawks team simply pivoted to their dangerous rushing attack.

Ocean View looks to remain perfect on the season when it takes on host Katella at 7 p.m. Sept. 22.

Ocean View 35, Garden Grove Santiago 20

Ocean View……...14 14 0 7 — 35

Santiago………….. 7 10 3 0 — 20

FIRST QUARTER

OV - 32 run Hickman (PAT good) - 9:38

San - 70 run Ourng (PAT good) - 9:20

OV - 34 run Hickman (PAT good) - 8:24

SECOND QUARTER

San - 31 field goal Alvarez - 4:35

OV - 6 run De Loera (PAT good) - 2:03

San - Purnell 63 pass from Tajimaroa (PAT good) - 1:48

OV - Meyer 31 pass from Hickman (PAT good) - :11

THIRD QUARTER

San - 23 field goal Alvarez - 5:53

FOURTH QUARTER

OV - 30 run De Loera (PAT good) - 9:24

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

OV - De Loera 17-159 yards, two TDs

San - Montgomery 12-112 yards, one TD

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

OV - Hickman 12-21, 157 yards, one TD

San - Tajimaroa 13-24 237 yards, one TD

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

OV - Washington 3-52 yards

San - Purnell 8-157 yards, one TD

JOSH CRISWELL is a contributor to Times Community News. Follow him on Twitter: @joshccriswell