Team ends with victory

The Huntington Beach White Chargers capped their regular season Saturday with a 27-13 victory over the host Hacienda/La Puente Wildcats in a Pop Warner Football Junior Pee Wee in La Puente.

The victory was the White Chargers’ second straight.

Following a Noah Kurtz fumble recovery, Huntington scored on the final play of the first quarter when Jared Strickler rumbled into the end zone on an eight-yard run.

Then the White Chargers stunned the Wildcats with a pair of touchdowns in the final four seconds of the opening half.

First, Hunter Simmons scored on a run and after recovering an onside kick, Strickler connected with Sean Strom on a 43-yard scoring pass to make it 20-0 at the half.

Eric Ortolf, who forced an early turnover, and defensive teammates Seth Leischner, David Arent, Dakota Tantardini, Christian Lopez, Hunter Burbage and Jacob Ellis, shut down the Wildcats offense in the first two quarters.

The White Chargers took the second-half kickoff and cashed it in for their third score when Ben Poploskie’s TD run capped the drive.

Huntington had success offensively due to the play of Zack Cochlin, Cole Brisbine and Kendrick Dailey.

Alex Alvarez, Conner Jarman and Matthew Leffler also made key runs on offense.

The Chargers, coached by Steve Strom, Bo Elroy and Shane Leischner, begin playoff action Saturday against the Long Beach 49ers in Garden Grove.

In other Jr. Pee Wee Division action:

Huntington 37 Lakewood 6

Jordan Palomino scored twice and Seth Fox, Dylan Sneed and Robert Rice also scored offensive touchdowns, as the Green Chargers handed Lakewood its first loss.

Rice had returned to the lineup after sitting out the early portion of the season with a broken arm.

Clint Jack returned an interception back for a touchdown and Tyler Warren had a key sack in the backfield.

Barrett Kelly, Noah Nabors, Jared Fuga and Frank McManus also made key defensive stands.

Lakewood became the first team this season to score on the Green Chargers.

In other division action:

Jr. Midget Division

Huntington 27, Saddleback Valley 0

Luke Bosilejavic scored twice and Jordan Pizzica and Brett Adams also reached the end zone, as the Green Chargers whipped the Wolverines.

The defensive effort, which allowed the Wolverines just two first downs en route to the shutout, was led by Mike DeValk, Andy Avilla, Frank Gonsalves, Mike Kelly, Jeff Milucky and Rob Escamilia.

Midget Division

Yorba Linda 28, Huntington 0

Undefeated Yorba Linda took an early lead and went on to shut out the Chargers.

Jr. Mighty Mite Division

Cypress 14, Huntington 8

Undefeated Cypress took a 14-0 lead but the Chargers got back into the contest on Chase Ault’s 50-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Cameron Gonzales, Griffin O’Connor and Kyle Scotia had key runs on offense for Huntington.

The defense, led by Zachary Edsell, Bobby Romero, Paul Rogers and Cameron Gonzales, made a key second-half stand inside its 10-yard line and later recorded the team’s first safety.

Pee Wee Division

Huntington 0, Tri-Cities Ravens 0

Neither team was able to reach the end zone and the Gold Chargers defense posted its second-straight shutout.