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University slips past Ocean View, 14-7

HUNTINGTON BEACHThe University High football team was caught off-guard by a feisty Ocean View squad, but all the Trojans needed were two third-quarter touchdowns to get things back in order.

The Trojans scored two touchdowns in a span of 2 minutes, 9 seconds, turning a halftime deficit into a 14-7 victory over the Seahawks Friday night at Ocean View High School.

“I could say we didn’t play well but that wouldn’t be true,” Trojans coach Mark Cunningham said. “Ocean View came out and smashed us in the mouth. They did a good job. We had to regroup in the second half.”

The Seahawks (1-1) took a 7-0 lead when sophomore quarterback connected with Adam To for a 35-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Had the Seahawks not made a strong defensive stop in the first quarter, To’s touchdown would have merely tied the score.

The Trojans put together an impressive offensive drive in the first quarter that started at their own 47. The drive ended at the Ocean View 1-yard line.

University’s fourth-and-goal play from the Ocean View 3-yard line was a pass from quarterback Elliott Martin to Omar Cook. Cook made the off-balance catch at the 1 but fell before he could cross the goal line.

“It was the right play, we just didn’t execute it,” Martin said.

The Trojans (3-0) seemed to be in a better groove as the second half started.

Erik Ogunsanya ended Ocean View’s opening drive of the second half with an interception at the Trojans’ 43-yard line.

Martin engineered the nine-play, 53-yard drive that ended when Tyler Fletcher scored the tying touchdown with 5:25 left in the third quarter.

Ocean View’s Blake Walker fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Trojans the ball at the Seahawks 27. The Trojans took the lead four plays later Martin-to-Ogunsanya 19-yard scoring strike.

“We didn’t have the right mindset in the first half,” Martin said. “We weren’t getting off the ball quick.”

A halftime team meeting fixed that.

Cunningham said he challenged a few players during the intermission and they responded.

Ocean View head coach Harold Eggers saw improvement on offense from last week, as sophomore quarterback Nolan Tippy threw for 193 yards. But Tippy’s four interceptions – two by Askun Alvandi – are a strong indication that the Seahawks still have work to do.
“We played pretty consistent,” Eggers said.

Likewise, University still has room for improvement. With players like Bronson Taylor and Sam Kuo still out of the 

Contact the writer: abalderas@ocregister.com