Oilers go for high five

Last week, it was Los Alamitos versus Edison.

This week, the big Sunset League game takes place Friday when Newport Harbor and Huntington Beach — two teams that posted impressive wins last week — meet at Huntington’s Cap Sheue Field. Both are 1-0 in league heading into this important clash. Huntington has won four straight games and Newport is on a two-game winning streak.

“Newport is a very good football team and we are excited to be playing them,” Huntington Coach Eric Lo said. “They are a very physical team, just like they always have been. This will be a real challenge for us.”

The Oilers are 5-1 and have been putting up some points during their four-game run. They have scored 32 of more points in each of their last four victories and last week came away with a 54-3 win over rival Marina. Newport Harbor is 3-3 and last week opened league play with a 33-7 home win over Fountain Valley. The Sailors’ two losses are to South Coast League teams: Trabuco Hills and undefeated San Clemente.

“Yeah, they lost a few games but look at who they’ve lost to,” Lo said. “They’ve really come around the last few weeks and have a lot of talent. I think their running back (Titus Hasson) is very fast, they have a good offensive line and their quarterback (Cole Blower) appears to be a tough guy who takes some hits but still delivers the ball.

“Defensively, I really like their middle linebacker (Ethan Cochran). They have a good defense end (Steve Michaelsen) and No. 4 (Hasson) is good at strong safety, as well. They have quite a few good athletes.”

Newport Harbor’s balance on both sides of the ball against Fountain Valley went a long way in its win. The Sailors used an aggressive defensive push against the Barons, one that resulted in a safety and two interceptions, including a 53-yard return for a touchdown by Marty Taylor. Blower threw for a touchdown and Hasson and Grant Frazier both rushed for scores.

Lo liked what he saw from his Oilers in their win over Marina. The Oilers were up 20-0 in the first quarter and led, 27-3, at the half. Quarterback Michael Chislock threw for 132 yards and threw touchdown passes to Chris Ogilvie and Ramon Vargas. Running back Fisher Chavira rushed for a game-high 126 yards and Nolan Beigel ran just five times but picked up 45 yards and scored twice. Marco Valenzuela (63-yard punt) and Austin Simpkins (78-yard kickoff) had big-time returns that set up two of the Oilers’ scores.

The Oilers’ have given up just 29 points during their winning streak. Last week against Marina, the defense’s stinginess continued as Ogilvie returned an interception for a touchdown and Vargas and Darren Romo also had picks.

The triumph over Marina allowed Huntington to hold on to the Victory Trophy for a third straight year.

“I thought our kids played real hard and really played well all the way through,” he said. “It was one of those games where it wasn’t one individual who stood out, but a bunch of guys who collectively played well and made things happen. We also were able to get our back-ups in and on offense we moved the ball well and we were solid defensively, as well.

“I think we’ll be ready for Friday. One thing we can’t do is turn the ball over. Last year, we turned it over against Newport quite a few times and those turnovers set up a bunch of points for them. We have to be mentally ready because it’s going to be a tough game.”

Huntington and Newport have a common opponent this season in Corona del Mar, and had opposite results. The Oilers led CdM in the fourth quarter of their Sept. 9 nonleague game but gave up two touchdowns in the final six minutes — the final score coming with just 29 seconds left — and lost, 28-21. The Sea Kings led archrival Newport throughout much of their Battle of the Bay game on Sept. 23, but the Sailors scored the game’s final 15 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a stunning 29-26 victory.

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Thursday

Fountain Valley (3-3, 0-1) vs. Los Alamitos (4-2, 0-1), 7 p.m., Veterans Stadium, Long Beach: Both the Barons and Griffins need a win to keep pace in the Sunset League race.

Fountain Valley last week could muster little offensively in a 33-7 loss to Newport Harbor. The Barons avoided a shutout when Luke Togafau scored on a nine-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Defending-league champ Los Al, meanwhile, never led Edison and fell, 10-7, to the Chargers. The Griffins nearly came back in the final minute to tie the score, got a reprieve and then failed on a gamble to win the game.

They blocked an Edison punt in the final minute but missed a shot at tying the score when Brett Breighton’s 37-yard field goal attempt sailed low and left of the goal post with 11 seconds left. Edison, however, was called for roughing the kicker on the play and the Griffins, who had no time outs remaining, were given a second chance from the Edison 11-yard line.

Los Al shunned another field-goal try and went for the end zone. Cody Paul, who rushed for a game-high 141 yards and a touchdown, ran to the seven before being bottled up by a host of Chargers. The clock expired after Paul’s run.

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Friday’s games

Edison (4-2, 1-0) vs Marina (1-4-1, 0-1), 7 p.m., Westminster High: The Chargers held on last week against Los Alamitos and a night later on the same field, the Vikings suffered a big loss to Huntington Beach.

Edison withstood a frantic finish and a late threat by Los Al to hold on for a 10-7 homecoming game victory at Cap Sheue Field. The Griffins stayed in the game because of Edison’s costly penalties and by blocking a punt in the final minute of the game.

Sedric Hill’s spectacular 100-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first half gave the Chargers a 7-0 halftime lead. Aleksander Torgersen’s 31-yard field goal two minutes into the fourth quarter broke the tie for good.

“I’ve lost so many tough games to John Barnes and Los Al over the years, so I guess it’s our turn tonight,” White said moments after Edison fended off the Griffins. “We tried to give the game away, but thankfully we didn’t. We blew a lot of opportunities and had a lot of stupid penalties. But we won and that’s what counts.”

Hills’ 100-yard interception is a school record. The previous record for a return was 90 yards set in 1983.

“Once I had the ball, the receiver (Kyle Roberts) sort of knocked it out of my hands, but I was able to hold on to it,” Hill said. “Once I had it, I just ran for my life.”

Marina found the going tough against Huntington and suffered a 54-3 setback to the Oilers. Landon Marshall’s 29-yard, first-quarter field goal provided the Vikings with their only points.

Orange (0-6, 0-1) vs. Ocean View (3-3, 1-0), 7 p.m., Ocean View High: The Seahawks, who got past a longtime nemesis last week to open up Golden West League play on a successful note, host an Orange squad that hasn’t won this season.

Ocean View pulled away in the second half to down host Westminster, 41-21. The Seahawks piled up 418 yards on the ground, led by quarterback Timmy Robinson’s 288-yard effort that included four touchdowns. Robinson also was a force on defense with an interception and fumble recovery. Colton Johnson returned an interception for a touchdown and Elijah Nolasco and Alex Hernandez also had interceptions.

Orange struggled last week against defending league-champion Segerstrom and fell to the Jaguars, 42-6. The Panthers have been held to seven or less points in four of their six games.

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Saturday

Xavier Prep (1-6) vs. Brethren Christian (3-3), 7 p.m., Ocean View High: Brethren Christian has had two weeks to prepare for this one as the Warriors end the nonleague portion of their schedule against Xavier Prep. When Brethren Christian last took the field, the Warriors were outscored, 31-20, by host Los Angeles Baptist on Oct. 8.

Xavier Prep has been shut out three times this season, including last week’s 41-0 loss to Palo Verde Valley. The Saints also have been held to just six points in two other games.

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Twitter: @MikeSciacca