Once Worst, Now First for Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, a football team that hit rock bottom a few weeks ago, finds itself on top of the Sunset League after a 9-0 victory over Marina at Westminster High School Friday night.

The Oilers are there because of their defense, which was good, and some breaks, which were better. They parlayed Marina’s inconsistent punting game into nine points, which was enough for a defense that has allowed only seven points in the past three games.

“The defense was just great,” Huntington Beach Coach George Pascoe said. “They’ve been the reason we’ve turned it around.”

After two games, the Oilers were winless and hopeless, according to Pascoe. He called it his lowest moment in eight years as the team’s coach.

Three victories later, Pascoe sees the glass as half full.

“The kids knew what they had to do and they’ve done it,” Pascoe said. “We talked to them about pride and things like that. But the bottom line was the kids just had to play harder.”

They did Friday, at least on one side of the ball.

With the Vikings content to play power football, the Oilers were more than happy to put eight men on the line of scrimmage. Marina (2-3, 1-1) did not get a first down until there were 2 minutes 45 seconds left in the first half. Marina finished with only 83 yards rushing.

The Vikings’ only realistic chance to score was Tony Gambino’s 49-yard field-goal attempt, which sailed wide left at the end of first half.

When Marina did throw, things got worse. Quarterback Chris Della Croce completed two of 13 passes for just 21 yards.

With so little offense, the Vikings spent plenty of time punting--or, at least, trying to punt.

In the first quarter, Josh Knox blocked a Gambino punt and Dan Lawrence recovered on the 18. Two plays later, Eric Escobedo swept right for a four-yard touchdown run.

On Marina’s next punt, the snap sailed well over Gambino’s head and through the end zone for a safety to give the Oilers a 9-0 lead. That was the extent of the Oilers’ offense.