{"id":486422,"date":"2026-10-06T03:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T03:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/486422\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T03:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T03:00:12","slug":"dan-albanos-biggest-revelations-from-week-6-in-orange-county-football-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/486422\/","title":{"rendered":"Dan Albano\u2019s biggest revelations from Week 6 in Orange County football \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

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1. What score was the most surprising?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult to pick only one because Week 6 was loaded with important league openers but the El Modena-Huntington Beach result sticks out for a few reasons.<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach won the clash of undefeated teams 24-21<\/a> to move to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the Delta League.<\/p>\n

The Oilers are off to their best start since 1993 with NFL Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez.<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach, led by second-year coach and former NFL wide receiver Matthew Hatchette, has won consecutive tight games against El Modena and Yorba Linda.<\/p>\n

The game featured a controversial ending. The winning touchdown pass from Huntington Beach\u2019s Brady Edmunds to Dylin Bruce on fourth down in the final seconds was questioned as an incompletion. The initial ruling of a touchdown was upheld after the officials conferenced following the play.<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach 24, El Modena 21 FINAL. @bradyedmunds9<\/a> finds @Dylinnn_1k<\/a> for the game-winning touchdown on a fourth-down play with 11 seconds remaining. @HBHSFootball<\/a>
improves to 6-0.@mjszabo<\/a> @ScottJFrench<\/a> @TheDailyPilot<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CcbcaBGO3d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andrew Turner (@AndrewTurnerTCN) October 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

But despite the controversy and the teams not completing the postgame handshake line, Huntington Beach and El Modena have both impressed with their play on the field.<\/p>\n

The Oilers are winning close games against quality opponents. Bruce, an Arizona State commit, has played outstanding in all three phases. Edmunds, an Ohio State commit, keeps picking himself off the turf to makes plays.<\/p>\n

The Vanguards just find ways to compete. El Modena didn\u2019t have one player ranked in the Hot 150<\/a> but the team plays well together and is fundamentally sound under coach Matt Mitchell.<\/p>\n

Dual-threat QB Ethan Sorenson is giving opponents tons of problems. Junior linebacker Aiden Sullivan matched his season-high with eight tackles against the Oilers.<\/p>\n

2. What 6-0 team is the most unexpected?<\/p>\n

Tough call. I\u2019ll take Orange in a close one over Capistrano Valley.<\/p>\n

The Panthers feature several younger players who are performing beyond their years.<\/p>\n

Freshman Jeremiah Dunklin, for example, rushed a season-high 143 yards on 14 carries in a 42-14 victory against El Dorado last week it the Foxtrot League.<\/p>\n

Orange also features three freshmen who are contributing to a deep cast of receivers for QB Starr Thomas III.<\/p>\n

One of those freshman is Karsten Hardiman, who starts at wide receiver and cornerback.<\/p>\n

Remember, the Panthers have quality wins against Laguna Beach and Etiwanda.<\/p>\n

Rancho Alamitos has earned consideration but the Vaqueros have three wins against teams that are 0-6. I\u2019m intrigued to see how Rancho Alamitos closes the Sigma League against Costa Mesa, Anaheim and Ocean View.<\/p>\n

3. What player delivered the most eye-popping performance in Week 6?<\/p>\n

Easy. San Juan Hills quarterback Eiler King.<\/p>\n

Things appear to have clicked for the senior transfer from San Clemente. He completed 24 of 29 passes for 473 yards and seven TDs in a 61-10 win against Los Alamitos in the Alpha League.<\/p>\n

Yes, the Griffins are struggling but King set season-highs for completions, yards and touchdowns.<\/p>\n

For the season, King has completed 76 percent of his passes for 1,459 yards and 22 TDs. He has no interceptions in the Stallions\u2019 spread, run-pass option, power-run attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cI truly believe he is playing at the level he is due to the system that allows him to highlight his strengths,\u201d San Juan Hills coach Robert Frith said of King. \u201cEiler has worked tirelessly with our offensive coordinator Alex Bridgford on mechanics and preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bridgford, a former quarterback at Mission Viejo, is in his first season as the Stallions\u2019 offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

Frith\u2019s experience with the offense traces back to his successful days at El Toro.<\/p>\n

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