LONG BEACH – Wilson High School celebrated its 100th birthday during a nonleague football game the same team it faced in its first varsity game: Huntington Beach.
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When the game ended, Huntington Beach also had reason to celebrate, as it defeated the Bruins 31-6.
After entering the game in the second half, Wilson quarterback Aiden Caro completed 7 of 10 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Harris caught six passes for 109 yards. Jemel Grigsby led the Wilson offense by rushing for 42 yards on 13 carries. He also had an interception.
Wilson (0-3) has faced stiff competition to start the season, but Bruins coach Raudric Curtis says his team should benefit from the adversity.
“I think this team is very fragile,” Curtis said. “I have to be honest with them if they are doing all the things off the field and attention to detail and how they carry themselves as champions before we get out here. The preparation, the rehab, the film study. Those are things I don’t think we’ve given 100% to. They need to see that.”
Wilson struggled to contain Oilers quarterback and Ohio State commit Brady Edmunds, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns. He threw one interception. Skylar Robinson caught four passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Oilers coach Matthew Hatchette was happy to be part of the 100-year celebration.
“I heard that information when our AD told me a couple days ago and I thought that was pretty cool,” Hatchette said. “I told the kids that as well. It’s football history and I’m down with anything football. They are a good program and they are still trending up in my opinion.”
Huntington Beach (3-0) wasted no time taking the lead. On its first play from scrimmage, Edmunds lobbed a 69-yard touchdown pass to Robinson for a 7-0 lead after a Malachi Newmaster extra point.
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Robinson and his teammates were ready for the play.
“We’ve been practicing it all week,” Robinson said. “We knew the time was coming on the first play of the game.”
The Oilers scored two more touchdowns, both passes from Edmunds to Kye Crump and Nathan Santillian for a 21-0 lead a minute into the second quarter.
A 22-yard field goal from Newmaster and Robinson’s second touchdown gave Huntington Beach a 31-0 lead heading into half time.
With Caro under center, Wilson drove into Oiler territory at the close of the third quarter, but the drive stalled and Leo Osorio’s 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
Wilson scored with 5:06 left in the game when Caro found Harris for a 6-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Huntington Beach lead to 31-6 after a missed extra point.
For Caro, a sophomore who normally starts for JV, and his team, it was a bright spot.
“It felt amazing,” Caro said. I’ve been thinking about this ever since I stepped on to the Wilson campus about what my first touchdown is going to be. I’m so happy for the way it turned out.”
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