Oilers’ Defense Too Tough to Crack

Huntington Beach recorded its third shutout of the season Friday night, beating host Paramount, 9-0.

“Our defense has been improving each week and this was an excellent test,” Huntington Beach Coach Tony Ciarelli said. “Paramount is a good team. They’ve scored about 30 points a game so I’m pleased with what we’ve accomplished.”

The Oiler defense limited the Pirates to 98 yards rushing and 45 passing.

Paramount (2-2) had an excellent chance to score early in the game when Efren Rangel recovered a dropped punt on the Oilers’ 32-yard line.

Paramount’s drive never got started as Huntington Beach’s Mark Corrales and Kawika Mesa made successive tackles for losses. On fourth and eight, Pirate quarterback Jorge Villasenor turned over the ball, fumbling on the Oiler 27. Chad Maki recovered.

Huntington Beach (4-0) started its opening drive with a 12-yard pass from Jeff Emerson to Sam Lightbody and first-down runs of 11 and 37 yards by Damon Van Hoorebeke. Shaun Shack kicked a 26-yard field goal, giving the Oilers a 3-0 lead.

Shaun Donohue stopped a Paramount drive late in the second quarter when he tackled Lamoerto Urrea on the Oiler eight, one yard short of a first down.

Huntington Beach scored the lone touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 16-play, 79-yard drive with Shunk scoring from the one with 9:09 remaining. The extra-point attempt was wide.

Both teams had a chance to score in the third quarter. The Oilers drove to the Pirate 19 on the opening play of the second half, only to fumble on the 17.

Paramount was stopped on the Huntington Beach 21 before missing a 39-yard field-goal attempt.

Van Hoorebeke led the Oiler running backs with 126 yards in 20 carries. Emerson completed eight of 11 passes for 81 yards for Huntington Beach.