Green Chargers ready to light up Orange Bowl

The Huntington Beach Jr. Midget Division Green Chargers will play for a Orange Empire Conference championship on Sunday.

Huntington advanced to the division’s Orange Bowl game by defeating the Saddleback Valley Wolverines, 24-14, in a semifinal game Saturday. The 10-1 Chargers will meet the 10-0 Santa Margarita Black Titans at 5 p.m. Sunday at Aliso Niguel High in Aliso Viejo.

Huntington struck first against Saddleback Valley. Behind the running of Shaun Colamonico and Daniel Serrano, the Green Chargers moved swiftly downfield. The drive ended when quarterback Griffin O’Connor eluded heavy pressure, to throw a touchdown pass to receiver Dylan Alcantara for an 8-0 lead. The Wolverines drew even in the second quarter but Serrano scored on a 40-yard run in the third quarter, to put the Green Chargers on top for good at 16-8.

Saddleback Valley drew to within 16-14 after scoring on a fourth-down trick play, but Colamonico blocked the extra-point attempt to protect Huntington’s lead. On their next possession, key gains by running back Chase Ault took the Green Chargers down to the Wolverines five yard line. Colamonico went on to score on a five-yard run for a 24-14 lead.

Following the Huntington-Santa Margarita Orange Bowl game, the Huntington Beach Chargers (9-1) will square off against Canyon Hills (10-0) in the Midget Division final at 7 p.m. at Aliso Niguel High.

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Jr. All-American Football

The Huntington Beach Oilers overcame a sluggish start but pulled away for a 19-0 win over the Orange Chiefs in a Clinic Division game Saturday at Huntington Beach High.

The Oilers took a 6-0 lead in first quarter on a 39-yard touchdown run on a reverse play by Zack Pratt. Despite the early score, the Oilers offense stalled until the third quarter. That’s when the defense came up with a big play. Orange was faced with a third-and-long situation when Oilers’ defensive back Zack Italasano intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards to the Chiefs’ 30 yard line.

The Oilers’ drive looked as though it would stall following a play for no gain and a five-yard penalty against them. Italasano, however, again came to the rescue. This time, he caught a 20-yard pass from quarterback Nate Skorheim to put the ball at the Orange 15. Fullback Jonah Del Rosario ran the ball to the 10, and tailback Aden Eckenwiler scored on a 10-yard run to make it 12-0.

Eckenwiler led the Oilers ground game with 46 yards on eight carries.

Skorheim added the finishing touch for Huntington, scoring in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard run on a quarterback bootleg.

Huntington, which is 5-3 overall, has a first-round bye for the Orange County Jr. All-American Football playoffs which start Saturday . The Oilers play their opening postseason game on Nov. 10.

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Jr. Clinic Division

Huntington Beach 14 Whittier: The Oilers capped regular season play Saturday by shutting out the Trojans.

Huntington takes a 6-2 record into the playoffs. The Oilers earned a first-round bye and begin postseason play on Nov. 10.