Newport Harbor Shocked by Huntington Beach, 6-0

The lightning show that illuminated the sky Thursday over Sheue Field during pregame drills was only a prelude to the big shock of the night, a 6-0 nonleague victory by host Huntington Beach over Newport Harbor.

Eight-hundred brave souls withstood the storm to see the Oilers snap a six-game losing streak dating to last season.

The Oilers (1-2) pulled out the victory with a solid performance by its defense and a nifty, 54-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Jack Friend with 9 minutes 56 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Friend, making his first start of the season after sustaining a shoulder injury several weeks ago, scored after breaking a couple of tackles and scampering along the right sideline with a couple of Newport Harbor defenders in pursuit.

“It was an option play and I just kept it,” said Friend, who led all rushers in the game with 73 yards in 14 carries. He also completed eight of 17 passes for 66 yards. “Once I saw the end zone, I knew I had it.”

The closest Newport Harbor (2-1) got to a touchdown was on the ensuing possession when it marched to the Huntington Beach 11-yard line before an offensive pass interference against wide receiver Branon Coluccio was called in the end zone. That pushed the Sailors back to the Huntington Beach 26-yard line, from where quarterback Greg Williams fired an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Newport Harbor tried desperately to score on its last drive of the game, but Oiler cornerback Ryan Arakaki intercepted a pass by Williams at the Huntington Beach 37-yard line with one minute to play, ending the threat. It was the second interception of the game for Arakaki.