Huntington Beach Oilers Advance to CIF Semifinals After Mater Dei Win

Huntington Beach advanced to the CIF Southern Section semifinals on Wednesday night by defeating Mater Dei 25-6 at home. The victory ensures the Oilers will compete in the top division of the state tournament for the third time in four years. It marks the third season of girls flag football playoffs in the region, and Huntington Beach remains the only team to reach the semifinals in the Open Division each season.

The Oilers entered the game as the No. 4 seed with a 22-5 record. Mater Dei and Lakewood St. Joseph also finished the regular season with a 1-1 mark in Pool D. Huntington Beach secured the final playoff spot in the pool based on point differential. The team now faces top-ranked JSerra on Saturday in a semifinal match.

Coach Zack Pannell described the upcoming matchup as the ideal test for his squad. He told his players that facing the best team in the state was the scenario they wanted. He emphasized that the team must maintain the same mentality used to beat Mater Dei. He stated that executing on both sides of the ball would position the team well for the contest.

The Oilers needed a win to stay alive in the tournament. They lost 27-26 to St. Joseph in their opening playoff game on Oct. 21. St. Joseph could have claimed the pool lead with a win over Mater Dei three days later. Instead, the Monarchs defeated Mater Dei 19-14, which kept Huntington Beach in contention. Several Oilers players watched that game from the stands, according to senior quarterback Roxie Shaia.

Shaia acknowledged the difficulty of watching the other team decide the pool winner. She noted that the Monarchs accomplished their goal, and the Oilers followed suit in their own game. Shaia threw three touchdown passes in the victory. Senior Shelby Nguyen, junior Daisy Quatman, and senior Brianna Massion each caught a touchdown from the quarterback.

Six Huntington Beach players recorded multiple receptions in the game. The group included sophomore Kayden Foley, freshman Kyla Uno, and junior Teagan Goodgame. Goodgame made a critical third-down catch in the fourth quarter to set up the final score. That play led to a nine-yard sweep by Uno for the winning points.

Shaia highlighted the reliability of her receiving corps. She said she can depend on every player on the field to catch the ball. The interception by Goodgame was a key moment for the offense. Shaia stated that knowing all her receivers can handle the ball provides a sense of security during the game.

The defense limited Mater Dei to a single touchdown pass. Tymane Allen threw the score to Allyson Schmida. Massion intercepted the ball on the Monarchs first drive to start the game. Junior Isla Castillo also recorded an interception. Rushers Mia Aish and Olivia Quick applied pressure throughout the contest. Massion was flagged for trash talk after her 11-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

Pannell said Massion is nicknamed Dennis Rodman by teammates because of her intensity. Massion believes the team confidence and high energy level intimidate opponents. She described bringing fire to the field as an important part of the game. The Oilers will attempt to upset JSerra on Saturday, a team that has won 54 straight games. Huntington Beach lost in the semifinals to Orange Lutheran last year and to Newport Harbor in 2024.

Senior Shelby Nguyen said it is time to break the losing streak in the semifinals. She noted that the third attempt might be the lucky one. In other pool play results, Newport Harbor defeated Westlake 14-7 to advance. JSerra beat Edison 39-7 to claim the top seed in Pool A.