Oilers restart with Coach Brown

A new era in Huntington Beach High football begins Friday when Brett Brown leads the Oilers on the first night of their 2016 season.

Brown has local ties when it comes to prep football, and he’s no stranger to the Huntington Beach program. He attended Marina (Class of 2003) where he played quarterback, defensive back and wide receiver. He served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ocean View (2005-2007) and was on Eric Lo’s coaching staff at Huntington Beach where he worked as offensive coordinator (five years) and quarterbacks coach (nine years). He will continue in the same capacity in 2016.

He takes over head coaching duties from Lo who stepped down last year after nine seasons.

Brown’s first Huntington team has eight returning players — six on defense, from last year’s team which won three games. His squad opens the season Friday in Los Angeles against West Adams Prep.

The Panthers went 6-7 last year and reached the semifinals of the CIF LA City Section Division III playoffs where they were eliminated by eventual division champion Los Angeles Belmont. One of their losses last year was a season-opening 57-14 defeat at Huntington.

The Oilers play six of their 10 regular-season games at home at Sheue Field. A three-game home stretch during nonleague play has them taking on San Clemente, Tesoro and Long Beach Wilson at home in successive weeks in September.

Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

CIF Division: 7

Head Coach: Brett Brown (1st year)

Coaching Staff: Diego Segura (defensive coordinator/defensive backs); Greg Olquin (offensive line); Kurt Clemens (offensive line/tight ends); Dean Yoshiyama (running backs); Josh Jordan (receivers); Dean Eddy (linebackers); Kevin Bischoping (linebackers); Mike Kelly (defensive line); Alex Alagata (defensive line); Jason Jordan (strong safeties).

2015 Record: 3-7 overall/1-4 league (fifth)

Offensive Scheme: Pistol spread

Defensive Scheme: 3-3-5

Returning starters: 2 offense/6 defense

Returning with Honors: Derek Thomas (DL, first-team all-league, Sr.); Jonah Apelu (DL, second-team all-league, Sr.); Payton Marlow (DL/TE, second-team all-league, Sr.); Jake Adams (WR/DB, honorable mention all-league, Sr.); Chase Elliott (LB, honorable mention all-league, Sr.).

Key Newcomers: Nick Welch (QB, Jr.); Jeremiah Flanagan (WR/DB, Soph.); Arick McLawyer (WR/DB, Soph.); Andrew Blokdyk (WR/DB, Jr.); Nick Napoli (RB/DB, Jr.); Jose Torres (OL, Sr.).

Coach’s Take: “We are a competitive and hard-working group,” Brown said.

CIF Division: The Oilers are grouped in Division 7 (23 schools) for the postseason playoffs and are one of five Orange County schools (Huntington, Canyon/Anaheim, St. Margaret’s, Tustin, Fullerton) in the division.

“We are in a playoff division where we feel we can make a run once we make the playoffs,” Brown said.

The Schedule: “We have a tough nonleague schedule with some of the best talent around,” Brown said. “It will be a good test for us as we prepare for the always competitive Sunset League.”

Season Opener: Friday at Los Angeles West Adams Prep

Oilers Schedule

Friday: at West Adams Prep, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2: San Clemente, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: Tesoro, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: Long Beach Wilson, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: at San Juan Hills, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: *Fountain Valley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: at *Marina, 7 p.m. (Westminster High)

Oct. 20: at *Newport Harbor, 7:30 p.m. (Orange Coast College)

Oct. 28: *Los Alamitos, 7 p.m.

Nov. 4: *Edison, 7 p.m.

(*denotes league game)