Chargers defeat Tritons

The Huntington Beach Chargers capped their 2007 season by defeating the San Clemente Tritons in Junior Mighty Mite Division action, 33-14, in a Pop Warner Football Orange Empire Conference bowl game Saturday.

Huntington took a 13-0 halftime lead behind the running of Miles McCord and touchdowns by Cameron Gonzales and Nolan Funke. The Chargers’ defensive squad of Chase Ault, Austin Shangraw, John Morieda, Shaun Colamonico, Daniel Christie, Jake Reidel, Brenden Stajduhar, Drake Williamson, Zachary Edsell, Bobby Romero, Griffin O’Connor, Christian Arredondo, Paul Rogers and Austin Irvin, smothered the Tritons and allowed just one first down in the opening half.

On the first offensive series of the second half, Ault broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run. San Clemente staged a rally in the third quarter, scoring consecutive touchdowns to cut the Huntington lead to 19-14. The Chargers responded with a 30-yard TD run by O’Connor and Edsell reached the end zone on a quarterback keeper.

The Chargers defense, which played without injured linebacker Kyle Scotia, didn’t allow a point in the fourth quarter.

Funke, Luke Hoggard, Dylan Garret, Seth Cooper, Seth Williams, Matt Martinez, Brady Jack and Aidan Brown shut down the Tritons’ inside rushing game. The defensive backfield of Gonzales, Alex Rostomian, William Earthman and David Coulter also was in top form. McCord, Earthman, Joseph Flannery and Ryan Ruvalcaba made key hits and solo tackles.

In other postseason action

Jr. Pee Wee Division

Green Chargers win Orange Bowl

The Huntington Beach Green Chargers racked up victory No. 10 without a loss, but it wasn’t easy as they had to rally to edge the previously undefeated North Long Beach Blue Panthers, 27-26.

Huntington entered the bowl championship game having outscored its opponents, 243-6; the Blue Panthers, however, took a 20-8 lead on the Green Chargers in the first half.

Huntington, though, rallied in the second half to score 19 unanswered points to take a 27-20 lead into the final minute of play. In an attempt to run out the clock, the Green Chargers went for it on a fourth-down play, needed less than a yard for a first down. But they were stopped short and North Long Beach took over and had another chance to come back.

White Chargers streak onward

Returning from a week’s hiatus, the Huntington Beach White Chargers routed the Anaheim Knights, 34-7, to run their winning streak to five games.

The White Chargers jumped on the Knights early, turning a Ben Poploskie interception into a touchdown run by Jarett Strickler just 1:40 into the game. Conner Jarman scored on a run with 2:49 left in the first quarter to increase the lead to 12-0.

A TD pass from Hunter Simmons to Sean Strom in the second quarter gave Huntington a an 18-0 halftime lead.

Charger cheer results

Results from the first Orange Empire Conference Cheer Competition:

Mighty Mite Division: Huntington Beach, first-place.

Jr. Pee Wee Division: Huntington Beach, third-place.

Midget Division: Huntington Beach, second-place.

Jr. Midget Green Division: Huntington Beach, first-place.

Jr. Midget Gold Division: Huntington Beach, first-place.