PREP FOOTBALL : Huntington Beach Survives Mistakes to Defeat Downey

Using its physical superiority to dominate the first half, Huntington Beach survived numerous errors in the second half to beat Downey, 28-12, in a nonleague game Saturday night at Huntington Beach High School.

The Oilers (1-0), ranked second in the Orange County preseason poll, outrushed the Vikings, 118-32, in the first half. The Oilers then had to rely on the defense in the second half.

Oiler defensive back Kevin Wray held off the Vikings in the second half. With Downey trailing, 14-6, and driving from the Oiler 24-yard line, Wray intercepted a pass at the 19 and ran 81 yards for a touchdown, giving Huntington Beach a 21-6 lead with 6 minutes 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

After recovering a high snap that sailed over Huntington Beach punter Justin Flagg’s head on the Oiler seven-yard line, Viking quarterback Enrico Delmar hit Pete Simpson with a 17-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Downey had a drive stop deep in Huntington Beach territory when Wray intercepted a pass at the five. The Oilers later scored on Eric Escobedo’s 80-yard run with 1:58 remaining. Escobedo wound up with 165 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries.

Huntington Beach was penalized six times for 50 yards in the second half and committed two turnovers to help keep the Vikings in the game.

In the first half, it was all Oilers with scoring drives of 89 and 86 yards with Escobedo leading the way.

Oiler quarterback Levi Schuck hit Wray with a 21-yard pass to the Viking 18. After a three-yard loss, Flagg scored on a 21-yard draw play. Jason Bartusick kicked his first of four conversions.

An 11-yard pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez and a 28-yard pass to Joshua Holland put the ball in scoring position for Escobedo, who scored on a three-yard run with 2:16 left in the half.