Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
HUNTINGTON BEACH — Huntington Beach’s pursuit of another strong season in girls flag football picked up more speed Wednesday night against a district rival.
Senior defensive captain Kendall Caira recorded two sacks and two flag pulls for loss, and the Oilers scored on a trick play with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter to collect a 14-0 victory against visiting Edison in the Sunset League.
“This is a big one,” said Huntington Beach coach Zack Pannell, whose team improved to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in league to remain on the heels of Newport Harbor (18-1, 8-0). “We’re right there as long as we can put together a great finish to the season.”
“A lot of teams out there have played nearly 17 games,” the coach added. “We’re kind of on the back end because we have our tournament that we’re hosting (this weekend) and we go up north to a tournament (Oct. 4).”
Last season, Pannell guided Huntington Beach to the Division 1 semifinals in the inaugural CIF-SS playoffs.
On Wednesday, he called a trick play to help seal the victory.
With the ball at the Edison 6 late in the fourth quarter, Oilers quarterback Roxie Shaia tossed a short pass to Brianna Massion, who pitched to Daisy Quatman on a hook and lateral play. Quatman raced into the end zone for a 13-0 lead with 1:08 left in regulation.
Shelby Nguyen ran the 1-point conversion.
“It’s one of the plays that we kind of throw out of the bag here and there,” Pannell said of the hook and lateral. “It was awesome.”
The execution by Huntington Beach, ranked No. 5 in Orange County, contrasted the struggles in the red zone by No. 9 Edison.
Huntington Beach safety Taylor Savage intercepted a pass from the Oilers 3 in the end zone late in the third quarter to help preserve the shutout.
It was an impressive achievement considering Edison’s triple-option attack features speedy Sadie Olivares.
“We have so much passion for each other, so much drive at practice, (our play is) just for each other,” said Caira, a pass rusher who was among the Huntington Beach seniors honored before the game. “It’s no one for themselves.”
Shaia capped the Oilers’ game-opening drive by tossing a 5-yard TD to Nguyen, a transfer from Marina.
Senior Kate Ross caught the 1-point conversion.
Edison (11-6, 5-3) almost scored in the third period on an interception and return by safety Tegan Sjollema deep in Huntington Beach territory. The senior was stopped at the Oilers 3. Two plays later, Savage made a leaping interception in the end zone.
Huntington Beach also stopped Edison near the Huntington Beach 3 on the final play of the first half. In the middle of the third quarter, the Chargers lost a fumble at the Oilers 11.
“I definitely don’t think we executed but hats off to them for executing,” first-year Edison coach Frank Phung said. “We need to execute and be cleaner in the red zone.”
Edison is among the 15 teams in Huntington Beach’s Battle at the Beach tournament this weekend.
The Oilers play at No. 3 Newport Harbor on Monday. Transfers Nguyen and Massion (Los Alamitos) observed the sit-out period and didn’t play in Huntington Beach’s 19-13 loss against the Sailors in the first round of league.