Edison Holds Off Huntington Beach in CIF-SS Division 3 First Round Game, Score 31-19 (2025)

Huntington Beach – ‘Cap’ Sheue Field (HBHS)

In a matchup between two longtime Sunset League rivals that share the same field and that are a little more than three miles apart from one another, the Edison football team took down Huntington Beach 31-19 on Friday at Cap Sheue Field in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.

The Chargers (6-5), an at-large team from the Alpha League, advanced to the quarterfinals where they will travel to Inglewood next week. The Sentinels blew out Capo Valley on the road 40-16.

The Oilers, who finished second in the Epsilon League, finished the season 8-3 in their first year under new head coach Mathhew Hatchette.

Edison wasted no time scoring, as it put together a six play 59 yard drive capped off by a 42-yard screen pass from Sam Thomson to Matthew Auau. Auau, who played both sides of the ball, totaled 97 receiving yards in the first quarter alone.

Huntington Beach’s first drive resulted in them punting, but Edison’s Teo Hampton muffed the punt and it was recovered by Logan Gray. The Oilers made the Chargers pay, as five plays later, they scored off a double pass, as Brady Edmunds hit Steel Kurtz, who hit Troy Foster for a 21-yard touchdown.

Edison swiftly went back to work before the opening quarter ended, as Thomson kept feeding the ball to Auau when he was open and on the touchdown play, he found Sean Moran on his first catch of the night,

After Huntington Beach punted after being back deep within its territory, the Chargers used the strategy they used against San Clemente the previous week, chew up lots of clock and utilize the run game to their advantage. Despite only being at midfield, Edison’s drive ate up a little over half the quarter, as it was capped off by Thomson finding Maddox Thomas on a short catch and run touchdown.

Knowing it couldn’t be down two or more scores going into halftime, the Oilers had a long drive of their own, as it took 11 plays and almost the remaining time off the clock, Eventually, Edmunds hit Jimmel Champion on a 15-yard touchdown into the endzone.

With 18 seconds left before the halftime intermission, Thomson marched the offense down the field swiftly, putting Crue Bradshaw into field goal range. Despite facing the tall task of kicking a 40-yard field goal, Bradshaw drilled it to give Edison a 24-14 lead at halftime.

The Oilers put together a long drive that took more than half the quarter, but settled for a 28-yard field from Jason Dunham. The Chargers’ first drive of the second half went awry, as a high snap went over the head of Thomson, as he recovered it at the Edison two-yard line.

Edison eventually punted, but the punter stepped in the back of the endzone, giving Huntington Beach two points and the ball back. The Oilers were faced with a 3rd and 16 Edmunds found Foster on a pass, but Thomas and Brett Dempsen forced the ball out and Dempsen recovered, swinging the momentum back to the Chargers.

Edison put together a short yet efficient drive which saw them score a rushing touchdown from five yards out, which eventually was the last score of the game.

Despite falling in the first round of the playoffs, Foster finished the night with 117 receiving yards, as he moved past Tony Hartley for most receiving yards all-time in Orange County behind Corona Del Mar’s John Humphreys. With players like Edmunds, Champion, Dylin Bruce, Maxx Hopkins returning next year, Huntington Beach is sure to make it back to the playoffs.

Edison will play Inglewood next week at a day and time to be determined. The last time the two teams faced one another was the 2021 CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals where the Sentinels edged the Chargers 22-16.