Millikans Karter Vaitagutu (9) tris to stop Huntington Beachs quarterback Brady Edmunds (9) pass in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
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Millikans Karter Vaitagutu (9) tris to stop Huntington Beachs quarterback Brady Edmunds (9) pass in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
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LONG BEACH — The Week 0 rust was evident early Thursday night for the Millikan and Huntington Beach football teams.
Ultimately, the Rams’ defense had trouble containing one of the country’s top-rated quarterbacks and the explosive playmakers around him.
Millikan allowed six passing touchdowns by Huntington Beach quarterback Brady Edmunds in a 42-14 nonleague loss in the season opener for both teams.
“(Edmunds) is thee best quarterback in the country, in my opinion,” Rams coach Romeo Pellum said. “Today, he showed it.”
Edmunds completed 24 of 31 passes for 434 yards and an interception, with half of the scores thrown to receiver Dylin Bruce.
Millikan (0-1) had problems with Bruce on both sides of the field. Bruce, a two-way standout who is committed to Arizona State, also had an interception and a forced and recovered fumble at cornerback.
On offense, Bruce finished with 10 catches for 217 yards.
“(Bruce) played on both sides well,” Oilers coach Matthew Hatchette said. “That’s what he’s here for. A lot of people don’t understand what dual threat means — that’s dual threat.”
Huntington Beach (1-0) overcame committing 10 of its 15 penalties in the first half to lead 14-0 at the break.
The Rams were unable to take advantage of the few early opportunities that presented itself.
On the team’s second possession and the game scoreless, quarterback Jonah Tuaniga’s timing with receiver Jay Williams was slightly off on a deep throw for a potential touchdown. Williams got open after a Huntington Beach defensive back fell down on the coverage, but Tuaniga’s pass led him too far and the ball went off his fingertips.
Trailing 7-0 with 2:03 left in the second quarter, Millikan then had a 16-yard touchdown pass wiped away by a holding penalty. The Rams then missed a 43-yard field goal to come up empty on the drive.
“We have to be able to sustain drives,” Pellum said. “Early on, the defense was playing lights out. The defense gave up two explosive plays in the first half. We can’t win that way, especially when we’re not putting points on the board.”
After opening the scoring with an 82-yard reception on the previous possession, Bruce made Millikan pay once more before the end of the half.
Edmunds capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive with a 29-yard strike near the right sideline to Bruce. Containing the playmaker after the catch was a consistent problem for the Rams, who had three defenders juked around the 11-yard line before Bruce reached the end zone.
“Dylin Bruce is Dylin Bruce,” Edmunds said. “Both sides of the ball, doing everything he can. It was a great day for him, great day for the team. It was fun.”
Millikan got rushing touchdowns from offensive lineman Aaden Muasau and running back Ryan Carter in the third quarter to maintain the 14-point deficit, but the Rams failed to score over the final 14 minutes.
Carter finished with 95 yards rushing on 17 carries to pace the Rams’ offense.
Defensively, Millikan defensive back Matteo Palma snagged an interception.
The Rams have another tough nonleague game next Friday, Aug. 28, against Loyola. They also have nonleague games against Capistrano Valley, Downey, Palos Verdes and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.
“It will help us for our league,” Pellum said of the tests before Moore League play. “Our league is pretty strong and, ultimately, every week is basically a playoff game for us right now. These are playoff-caliber teams.”