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Oilers looking to stay on roll

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Coming off their most impressive showing of the 2000 prep football

season, the Huntington Beach High Oilers will get a chance tonight to

build upon that success when they take on Mission Viejo in a nonleague

encounter.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Mission Viejo High.

Last Friday’s 17-0 shutout of Capistrano Valley brought a boost of

confidence to the Oiler camp. It came just in time, too, as Mission Viejo

figures to be Huntington Beach’s toughest nonleague opponent.

So far, the Oilers (1-2 overall) are 1-0 against South Coast League

competition, but Mission Viejo, ranked fourth in the latest CIF Southern

Section Division II poll, is considered the favorite for the SCL crown.

“It’s going to be a tough game, and it becomes tougher when you have

to play a team like Mission Viejo on the road,” Huntington Beach Coach

Tony Ciarelli said. “Our defense will be put to the test, and our offense

is going to need to control the ball, in order to win this game.”

Ciarelli’s point is well taken. Huntington Beach will need to keep the

ball away from a Diablos team that has scored 97 points in its last two

games, and is averaging 37 points an outing.

After opening the season with a surprising 23-14 loss to Temescal

Canyon, Mission Viejo (2-1) has rebounded to beat West Covina (62-27) and

Laguna Hills (35-27). The Diablos have been putting points on the

scoreboard with an offense that features balance all around.

They are led by senior quarterback Billy Hart, who comes into

tonight’s game with 487 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. He

has completed nearly 60-percent of his passes (37-62), and averages 13.2

yards per completion.

His favorite receiver, thus far, has been senior wide receiver/outside

linebacker Jason Hibbard, who has 12 receptions for 166 yards.

The talent extends to the Diablos backfield, where leading scorer

Robbie Dubois (six touchdowns), a 5-foot-10, 190 junior tailback/outside

linebacker, roams.

Dubois is one of the county’s top rushers with 528 yards on 67

carries, good for nearly eight yards per attempt.

He’s complimented by junior fullback Ryan Powdrell (6-1, 220), who has rushed 21 times this season for 181 yards (8.6 avg.).

Mission Viejo’s potent offense, however, has been hampered by

turnovers.

“Still, it’s definitely going to challenge us,” Ciarelli said of the

Diablos offense. “We’re coming off a terrific defense performance against

Capo, and we hope to continue to play at that level. This will be our

stiffest test.”

Huntington Beach favors the ground game itself, and senior running

back Russ Oschman leads the way.

Oschman (5-11, 185) made headlines last week by rushing the ball a

school-record 50 times for 268 yards and a touchdown against Capistrano

Valley. Oschman is second in the county in total carries (93), and total

yards (595).

He averages 6.4 yards per carry.

“We plan on utilizing Russ as much as we can, although we’d like to

mix it up a bit more,” Ciarelli said. “He’s been our workhorse, and we’ll

stick with what has worked.”

Both defenses have been scored upon in the first three weeks of the

season.

Huntington Beach gave up 35 points to Downey and 45 to Hueneme before

blanking Capistrano Valley. Mission Viejo, meanwhile, has given up no

fewer than 23 points in each of its first three games.

The Oilers come into the contest averaging 19 points on offense.

To reach Mission Viejo High, take the 5 (Santa Ana) Freeway south to

La Paz. Turn left on La Paz, then turn right on Chrisanta Dr. The school

is located on the right side of the street, and the stadium (4,000

capacity) is located at the rear of the school.

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