SUNSET LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Escobedo Leads Way in Huntington Beach Rout

Eric Escobedo, a running back and defensive back, scored three touchdowns, and Chris Yadrick added two as Huntington Beach routed Santa Ana, 49-0, in a Sunset League game at Huntington Beach High.

Huntington Beach (5-4, 4-2 in league) sacked Santa Ana quarterback Mark Fausto six times, forcing him to fumble four times. Escobedo also intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown; he had 96 yards and two touchdowns rushing.

In the third quarter, Huntington Beach’s Nick Ziegler blocked a punt by Jorge Perez and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-0.

Art Vasquez, a third-string running back, scored the Oilers’ last touchdown on a 17-yard run around right end with 12 seconds remaining in the game.

“We had absolutely no cause to run up the score,” Huntington Beach Coach George Pascoe said. “I was walking out to the field, and Santa Ana called time out, so we got another play, and our kid ran it in.

“Put yourself in Vasquez’s place. You’ve battled all year on the bench as a non-player. You can’t ask this kid to not try.”