High School Football: Huntington Beach Oilers Soar Past Millikan Rams 42-14 in Season Opener

Game at a Glance

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Location: Long Beach, California
Final Score: Huntington Beach 42, Millikan 14
Records: Huntington Beach (1-0) | Millikan (0-1)
Photos by: Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer

Think of this like the first day of school—both teams were shaking off the "summer rust" (that’s what coaches call Week 0 mistakes). But while Millikan stumbled, Huntington Beach looked like they’d been practicing all summer.

The Star of the Show: Brady Edmunds

Imagine a quarterback (the player who throws the ball) so good that the opposing coach calls him "the best quarterback in the country." That’s Brady Edmunds, #9 for Huntington Beach.

His stat line (that’s football talk for "numbers"):

• 24 of 31 passes completed (that’s 77% — like getting an A+ on a test)
• 434 passing yards (that’s nearly 4.5 football fields worth of throwing!)
• 6 touchdown passes (the maximum points you can score in one play)
• 1 interception (one mistake where the other team caught his pass)

IMPORTANT POINT:
Edmunds didn’t just throw a lot—he threw accurately. Completing 77% of your passes against a real defense is incredibly hard, even for college players.

Two-Way Sensation: Dylin Bruce

Most high school players specialize in either offense (scoring) or defense (stopping the other team). Dylin Bruce (#2) does both—at an elite level.

On Offense (Catching Passes):

• 10 catches for 217 yards
• 3 touchdown catches (half of Edmunds’ 6 total TDs!)
• One was an 82-yard catch-and-run (he caught it short and outran everyone)

On Defense (Playing Cornerback):

• 1 interception (caught the other team’s pass)
• 1 forced fumble (knocked the ball loose)
• 1 fumble recovery (picked up the loose ball)

IMPORTANT POINT:
Coach Matthew Hatchette said: "That’s what dual threat means — that’s dual threat."
Translation: "Dual threat" usually means a QB who can run AND throw. But Bruce redefines it—he’s a threat on BOTH sides of the ball.

Millikan’s Missed Opportunities

The Rams (Millikan’s mascot) didn’t play terrible—they just couldn’t finish. Here’s what went wrong:

1. The "Almost" Touchdown

• Situation: 2nd possession, game tied 0-0
• Play: QB Jonah Tuaniga threw deep to Jay Williams
• What happened: Williams got wide open (defender fell down!) but the pass was slightly too far — hit his fingertips and fell incomplete
• Lesson: In football, "almost" counts for zero points

2. The Penalty That Erased a TD

• Situation: Down 7-0, 2:03 left in first half
• Play: 16-yard touchdown pass completed!
• What happened: Holding penalty (illegal blocking) wiped it out
• Result: Rams had to settle for a 43-yard field goal attempt — MISSED
• Result: Came away with zero points on a drive that should’ve been 7

3. Explosive Plays Allowed

Coach Romeo Pellum put it simply: "The defense gave up two explosive plays in the first half. We can’t win that way, especially when we’re not putting points on the board."

Bright Spots for the Rams

It wasn’t all bad for Millikan! Here’s what went right:

Ryan Carter (#7) — Running Back

• 95 yards rushing on 17 carries (5.6 yards per carry — very good!)
• 2 rushing touchdowns in the 3rd quarter
• Kept fighting even when the game was out of reach

Aaden Muasau (#55) — Offensive Lineman Scores!

• Linemen (the big guys who block) almost never touch the ball
• Muasau scored a rushing touchdown — a rare and awesome moment!
• Shows the Rams have creative plays up their sleeve

Matteo Palma (#20) — Defensive Back

• 1 interception (caught Edmunds’ only mistake of the night)
• Proved Millikan’s defense can make plays

Key Game Moments — Step by Step

1. First Half: Huntington Beach commits 10 penalties (mistakes) but still leads 14-0 at halftime
2. Bruce’s 82-yard TD: Catches short pass, breaks tackles, outruns everyone
3. Bruce’s 29-yard TD: Jukes three defenders near the goal line — pure highlight reel
4. Halftime: Oilers 14, Rams 0 (could’ve been worse for Millikan)
5. 3rd Quarter: Millikan scores two rushing TDs (Muasau + Carter) → 14-14 point deficit maintained
6. Final 14 Minutes: Millikan shut out completely — no more points
7. Final Score: 42-14 Huntington Beach

What’s Next for Both Teams?

Millikan Rams (0-1)

Tough schedule ahead — but that’s by design:

1. Friday, Aug 28 — vs Loyola (another powerhouse)
2. Non-league games: Capistrano Valley, Downey, Palos Verdes, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)
3. Then: Moore League play (their conference)

Coach Pellum’s Take: "It will help us for our league. Our league is pretty strong and, ultimately, every week is basically a playoff game for us right now. These are playoff-caliber teams."

Translation: Playing the best teams now prepares them for when it really matters later.

Huntington Beach Oilers (1-0)

• Statement win against a solid opponent
• Edmunds + Bruce connection looks unstoppable early on
• Defense bent but didn’t break (only 14 points allowed)
• 15 total penalties is a concern — they’ll clean that up in practice

Photo Gallery Highlights (22 Action Shots!)

The game was captured beautifully by Tracey Roman. Here are the moments frozen in time:

Summary

Huntington Beach 42, Millikan 14 — The Oilers’ dynamic duo of Brady Edmunds (6 TD passes) and Dylin Bruce (3 TD catches + defensive plays) was simply too much. Millikan showed fight with Ryan Carter’s 95 rushing yards and two 3rd-quarter touchdowns, but missed opportunities (dropped TD, penalty-erased TD, missed FG) and inability to stop big plays doomed them. Both teams learned valuable Week 0 lessons — Huntington Beach about discipline (15 penalties!), Millikan about finishing drives. The Rams’ brutal non-league schedule continues Friday vs. Loyola.

FAQ — Your Questions Answered

What does "Week 0" mean?

A: It’s the first week of the high school football season — essentially a "season opener." Teams often play tough non-conference games here to prepare for league play.

Why is 6 touchdown passes such a big deal?

A: In a single game? That’s video game numbers. Most great QBs are happy with 3-4. Six means the defense had zero answers all night.

What’s a "two-way player" and why is Dylin Bruce special?

A: Most players only play offense OR defense. Bruce stars at wide receiver (offense) AND cornerback (defense). Doing both at a high level is extremely rare — it requires insane stamina and football IQ.

Why did Millikan schedule such hard teams if they’re 0-1 now?

A: Strategic toughness. Coach Pellum wants his team battle-tested before league play. Losing to great teams now teaches lessons that beating weak teams won’t. It’s like lifting heavier weights to get stronger.

What’s a "holding penalty" and why did it wipe out a touchdown?

A: Holding = illegally grabbing a defender’s jersey/body to stop them from tackling. It’s a 10-yard penalty and replay the down. Since the TD happened during the hold, it doesn’t count. Harsh but fair — rules are rules!

Article based on game coverage by the Press-Telegram. Photos by Tracey Roman.