HUNTINGTON BEACH – Senior running back Josh Avila rushed for 213 yards and one touchdown as Westminster defeated Ocean View, 35-20, in a Golden West League game Friday night at Ocean View High.
Avila gained his yards on a career-high 35 carries for the Lions (3-4, 1-1).
Westminster coach Ted McMillen said the team learned Wednesday that junior quarterback Noah Melbon would be able to play in the game, which energized the team, he said.
Despite playing with a cast on his left arm, Melbon used his right arm to complete 11 of 19 attempts for 193 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception.
All three touchdowns went to senior receiver Isayah Anderson.
McMillen said there was a little hesitancy to use Melbon as a rusher because of his injuryespecially because he said he got “banged up early in the game.”
Excluding sacks, Melbon rushed three times for 19 yards. He has rushed for 50 yards or more three times this season.
For Ocean View (4-3, 1-1), senior quarterback Xavier Salgado tried to do it all on offense. Salgado rushed for 71 yards on 21 carries. He also connected on 10 of 19 pass attempts for 114 yards and two touchdowns, with and an interception.
Salgado did not connect with junior wideout Adam Meyer, one of his favorite targets in the past, until late in the fourth, though he did find him for a 3-yard touchdown.
Ocean View had a chance to get back in the game right before the half, but sophomore corner back Rodrigo Adame dropped what might have been an interception for a touchdown. Instead, Melbon found Anderson for a 16-yard touchdown on the next play, making it 28-6 at the half.
Anderson finished with five catches for 136 yards.
Melbon did not play in Westminster’s first Golden West League game last week, a 28-22 loss at Segerstrom.
