Orange County Prep Football : Western Drives Right Past Ocean View : Four Running Backs Rush for Scores in Pioneers’ 41-7 Victory

It didn’t matter who carried the ball for Western High School Friday night. Three of the Pioneers’ nine running backs gained more than 90 yards and four scored touchdowns in a 41-7 victory over Ocean View at Sheue Field in Huntington Beach.

“We don’t need any big stars so we try to get as many guys as possible involved in the offense,” Western Coach Jim Howell said after five different players scored touchdowns for the Pioneers (3-1).

Western does have a group of standouts, its offensive line, which includes 6-foot 5-inch, 275-pound center Chris Frembling; 6-0, 245-pound tackle Chris Bonilla and 6-3, 245-pound tackle Vince Galaz.

“That’s the group we really depend on,” said Howell. “Good people with good size.”

Not that the efforts of the backs, including a seldom-used Richard Rodriguez, went unnoticed. Rodriguez, who usually backs up Craig Morales, scored on runs of 53 and 24 yards. A week ago, Rodriguez was the player of the game--defensively.

Morales carried 9 times for 91 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown. William Lusk, filling in for injured starter Ray Welch, led Western with 114 yards in 11 carries.

It was Lusk’s first chance to prove himself and Howell was impressed.

“Welch is going to have to earn his spot back from Lusk,” Howell said.

Western coverted three Ocean View mistakes into scores. On the first play of the game, Rodriguez intercepted a Vic Gutierrez pass at the Seahawks’ 27-yard line. Eight plays later, reserve Mahe Liavaa scored from the 1 on his only run of the game.

A minute later, Tom Shrake recovered a fumble at the Ocean View 31-yard line. On the next play, Morales ran 31 yards for a score.