GAME OF THE WEEK RECAP AND TOP PHOTOS: Bey, Saints Overcome 21-0 Deficit to Take Epsilon League Title

IRVINE, CA- Week 9 of the CIF Southern Section season delivered one of the best matchups of the year as #24 Huntington Beach traveled to Crean Lutheran High School to take on #17 Crean Lutheran in a pivotal Epsilon League showdown under the lights in Irvine.

What started as a blowout quickly turned into one of the most impressive comebacks of the season, as the Saints rallied from a 21–0 deficit to defeat the Oilers, 31–28, and remain unbeaten in league play.

Huntington Beach (7–2, 3–1 Epsilon) wasted no time showing off their high-powered offense. On the third play from scrimmage, junior quarterback Brady Edmunds connected with Troy Foster down the seam for a 63-yard touchdown to make it 7–0.

The Oilers struck again late in the first quarter when Edmunds found Nathan Villanueva for a 14-yard score, then opened the second with another deep ball — a 42-yard touchdown to Foster — giving Huntington Beach a commanding 21–0 lead just minutes into the second quarter.

Foster was nearly unstoppable early, finishing with 7 receptions for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Edmunds completed 15 of 29 passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns and added a short rushing score in the fourth quarter.

Crean Lutheran (8–1, 2–0 Epsilon) didn’t panic despite the early hole. The Saints’ offense, led by running back Caleb Bey, began to impose its will behind a dominant offensive line.

Bey capped an 83-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown to get the Saints on the board, then Dillon Booth punched in a 1-yard score on the following drive to make it 21–14.

With just 24 seconds left in the half, quarterback Caden Jones (25-of-31, 150 yards, 1 TD) hit Bey on a 10-yard swing pass to tie the game 21–21 heading into the break. The Saints’ sideline erupted as the momentum swung completely in their favor.

Bey finished with 27 carries for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 6 receptions for 41 yards and another score, earning him JPWest Media Player of the Game honors.

Crean Lutheran dominated time of possession in the second half, holding the ball for over 30 minutes to Huntington Beach’s 17. Eric Miao gave the Saints their first lead of the night with a 37-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, and early in the fourth, Bey added his second rushing touchdown — a 5-yard run to extend the lead to 31–21.

Defensively, the Saints tightened up behind Anthony Jones (3 tackles for loss, 2 QB hurries) and Aidan Smith (1 sack, 2 pass breakups), holding Huntington Beach to just 11 rushing yards on 12 attempts.

Edmunds and the Oilers mounted one last drive, going 76 yards in 11 plays capped by a 2-yard keeper from the junior quarterback to cut it to 31–28 with 3:51 left. The Saints would get the ball back and waste all the time remaining to clinch their first Epsilon League title in and improve to 9-0.

Crean Lutheran will end their 2025 Regular Season up on Thursday October 30th at 7pm at Laguna Hills HS, while the Oilers will wrap up their regular season on Halloween at Valencia HS when they take on the El Dorado Hawks.