It Looks Like 0-2 and Out for Oilers

In the balanced Sunset League, it doesn’t take long for a team to fall by the wayside.

That’s the grim reality for Huntington Beach. What began as a promising season is slipping away fast after the Oilers were shut out Thursday by Esperanza, 14-0, before an estimated 1,100 spectators at Huntington Beach High School.

Huntington Beach used a stubborn defense and no-frills offense to win four of its first five games, and the Oilers entered league play with cautious optimism. But Thursday’s loss was their second straight, with top-ranked Los Alamitos and fifth-ranked Edison still on the schedule.

The Oilers have scored only six points in the last two games. And Thursday, despite some spirited running by sophomore Russel Oschman--a game-high 126 yards in 13 carries--Huntington Beach never seriously threatened to enter the end zone. The Oilers’ deepest penetration was the Aztec 26-yard line

The defense--which gave up a second-quarter touchdown run by Esperanza tailback Tim Sonuyi and a third-quarter touchdown by tailback Grant Warren--can’t do it alone .

“I thought we were in it until that second touchdown,” said Oiler Coach Tony Ciarelli. “But our offense is struggling right now, and that makes 14 points hard to overcome.

“We moved the ball at times tonight. But we still have to get to the point where we can put seven to eight good plays together, instead of only four or five.”

Esperanza’s offense wasn’t in peak form, but it was balanced. Quarterback Greg Farrell, throwing mainly medium-range passes, completed 14 of 20 attempts for 156 yards. Ryan Murray caught nine passes for 122 yards.

But the most important Aztec on the field was Sonuyi. The junior was playing only his second full game. His season was slowed by a broken right wrist he sustained while weightlifting in July. He plays with a cast.

On Thursday, Sonuyi gave Esperanza speed and power in the running game. And that made it easier for Farrell to pass.

“That’s the kind of rushing attack I thought we would have when the season started,” Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said. “He’s still getting his legs in game shape, but he did run strong.”

Sonuyi is just glad to be playing again, even though he is still adjusting to carrying the ball in his left hand.

“Tonight’s game felt easier,” said Sonuyi, whose 1999 debut was against Bloomington two weeks week. “We still have a long way to go on offense. We kept the defense on the field too long tonight.”

The road the Oiler offense must travel seems twice as long.