HB Pee Wee Chargers’ rally falls short
The Huntington Beach Pee Wee Division Green Chargers faced an early-season test Saturday at home against the defending Orange Bowl champion Saddleback Valley Cougars. The Green Chargers fell into a big hole early but staged a rally only to end up short in a 36-22 loss in Pop Warner Football action at Edison High.
Huntington fought back from a 22-0 deficit but suffered its first loss after opening the season with a pair of shutout victories.
Huntington came out flat Saturday. Saddleback used several big plays — two long touchdown passes and a punt return, to jump out to a 22-0 lead early in the second quarter en route to 36 first-half points. The Green Chargers scored their first touchdown on a 35-yard reception by running back Gabe Hoelzel from quarterback Elijah Brown, and Ryan Rivituso converted a two-point conversion, to cut the deficit to 22-8 after. The Green Chargers struck again minutes later on a 14-yard strike from Brown to Rivituso in the end zone to make it 28-14. The Cougars, however, scored on a big pass play with under two seconds left in the half to extend their lead to 36-14.
Huntington held Saddleback scoreless in the second half. The Green Chargers began their comeback early in the fourth quarter when Hoelzel scored on a 10-yard run. After holding the Cougars to a three-and-out series on their next possession, Huntington’s offense took over. The Green Chargers drove down to the Cougars’ five-yard line with just over five minutes left in the game, but were unable to get into the end zone.
Huntington had several outstanding performances on offense. Brown completed 21 of 31 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns, and was intercepted (twice) for the first time this season. Rivituso had four receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, Nico Brown seven receptions for 54 yards, and Anthony Robinson five receptions for 30 yards.
The Green Chargers are back on the field Saturday for a 12:30 p.m. game with the Tustin Black Cobras at Foothill High.
— Reader submission