Green Chargers find perfection

It was a perfect ending to the regular season Saturday for the Huntington Beach Jr. Pee Wee Division Green Chargers.

Huntington once again put on a dominating defensive performance and shut down a strong San Clemente offense to earn a 12-0 victory. The win capped an 8-0 regular season for the Green Chargers and gave them their seventh shutout in eight games.

San Clemente needed a victory to secure a postseason playoff berth.

Huntington’s offense moved on San Clemente in the first quarter but mistakes and penalties by the Green Chargers and the play of the Tritons’ defense, led to a scoreless quarter. In the second quarter, Huntington quarterback Griffin O’Connor connected with wide receiver EJ Ginnis on a quick slant across the middle that Ginnis turned into a 40-yard touchdown.

The Green Chargers led, 6-0, at the half.

In the second half, the Chargers used a big defensive play, a blocked punt by Cameron Gonzales, to set up great field position for their next scoring drive. The drive ended in a touchdown run by Chase Ault that moved Huntington out to a 12-0 lead.

The Green Chargers continued its first-half pace on defense by shutting out the Tritons in the second half. Zach Edsell, Luke Hoggard, Kyle Drinnon, Jonathan Moreida and Karson Ayres all had big stops and an interception by cornerback Shaun Colomonico sealed the shutout.

Huntington opens play Sunday in the first-round of Orange Empire Conference playoffs. The Green Chargers take on the Saddleback Valley White Wolverines at 1 p.m. in Brea.

— From Staff Reports