El Dorado begins title defense with big first step

PLACENTIA - If this were soccer, then the CIF-SS Southwest Division could be the “Group of Death.”

There are two CIF champions (La Habra and Cypress) and two other finalists (Fullerton and Pacifica) that were imported into the division this season, making El Dorado’s bid for a third consecutive title more difficult.

However, El Dorado (6-5) took a positive first step toward defending its title with a 45-19 first-round victory over visiting Huntington Beach (5-6) on Thursday at Valencia High. (Full game stats.)

The Oilers finished third in the Sea View League.

El Dorado finished in a three-way tie for the Century League title. It earned the top seed from the league by coin flip.

“I told them that, until somebody knocks us off, we’re still the guys,” El Dorado coach Jeff Bailey said. “We have a long way to go. There are some great teams in this division.”

El Dorado will meet either La Habra or Anaheim, in the second round.

If La Habra defeats Anaheim tonight, El Dorado will play host to the second-seeded Highlanders. However, if Anaheim upsets La Habra, then the Golden Hawks will be on the road.

Quarterback Kane Wilson got El Dorado moving with three rushing touchdowns in the first half, resulting in a 21-10 halftime lead.

The Oilers trailed, 24-13, at the end of the third quarter, but El Dorado scored 21 points in a row on two rushing TDs by Sinjian Hathoot and a 25-yard interception return for a score by Ryan Cardenas to take a 45-13 lead.

“We were able to throw and run pretty effectively and executed real well,” Bailey said. “They (Huntington Beach) did some things well offensively, also.”

El Dorado had its hands full with the Huntington Beach’s spread offense led by quarterback Sean Guite. Guite passed for 346 yards but had to settle for field goals on a key drive in the second and third quarters.

“It was a tough win,” Hathoot said.

The victory increases El Dorado’s winning streak to five games.

The Golden Hawks started the season by losing five of its first six games.

“We had a tough road in the beginning (of the season) but we seemed to pull everything together and get through it,” Hathoot said.

• Click here for full game stats and links to season totals and team rosters.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com