GAME RECAP: Oilers Fall Late Despite Edmunds’ 5-Touchdown Performance

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – The Huntington Beach Oilers returned home Friday night to face the 5-1 La Habra Highlanders in a crucial Epsilon League matchup.

The Oilers got off to a fast start, opening the game with a trick play. Steel Kurtz threw across the field to Troy Foster on the kickoff return, setting up a 55-yard run that ignited the home crowd. Just three plays later, quarterback Brady Edmunds connected with Niko Lopez on a 6-yard pass, capping a 20-yard drive and putting the Oilers on the board.

La Habra quickly responded with a 13-yard rushing touchdown but missed the 2-point conversion, allowing Huntington Beach to maintain a narrow 7-6 lead.

The Oilers wasted no time striking again. Edmunds found Troy Foster for his second touchdown of the night, this time on a 59-yard bomb, pushing the lead to 14-6. However, La Habra kept the pressure on, marching down the field and scoring in just over four minutes to pull within one, ending the first quarter at 14-13.

Huntington Beach continued to roll in the second quarter. Edmunds led a 12-play, 74-yard drive that chewed up nearly four minutes of the clock, ending with a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-13. With momentum on their side, the Oilers capitalized again before halftime, as Edmunds hit Faris Shehadeh on a 28-yard touchdown pass, giving them a 28-13 advantage at the break.

The second half, however, saw La Habra claw their way back into the game. Two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter brought the Highlanders within two points at 28-26, setting up a dramatic finish.

In the fourth quarter, La Habra completed an 8-play, 62-yard drive for a go-ahead touchdown, taking the lead for the first time. But Huntington Beach showed resilience. With just 1:11 remaining, the Oilers drove 65 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Edmunds, his fifth total score of the night.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, La Habra had the final word. The Highlanders quickly moved down the field, setting up a game-winning field goal as time expired, handing Huntington Beach a heartbreaking 32-35 loss.

The Oilers, now 4-3 on the season, will look to regroup as they face the Foothill Knights next Friday night at Tustin High School, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.