Football: Edison says ‘Aloha’ to 2008 season
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Dave White took in his surroundings in Maui last week and momentarily wondered.
‘You practice all week looking at the mountains and the ocean, and you never know if the kids just think it’s a big vacation,’ the Edison coach said.
Turns out the kids packed more than their swimsuits.
The Chargers walloped Lahainaluna, 43-10, Saturday in the earliest season opener in White’s 23 years at Edison.
The early start means that the Chargers will get three byes during the season--this week, in Week 1 and in Week 5.
‘By Week 5, we might need one,’ White said.
The byes will also help White make it to Boise, Idaho, to see his son Hunter, a redshirt freshman linebacker for Boise State. With Edison off this week, White said he planned to attend the Broncos’ opener Saturday against Idaho State.
White’s Chargers had a luau during their weeklong stay in Maui before roasting Lahainaluna, the defending Hawaiian state Division II runner-up.
Edison quarterback Matt Viles, making his debut as a starter, endured a rough second quarter in which he had a pass intercepted and an option pitch returned 88 yards for a touchdown. But Viles finished with three touchdown passes--all to receiver Mike Rivera, who was making his debut on offense after playing defense exclusively last season.
Even though his team made the usual allotment of first-game mistakes, including turnovers and penalties, White said he was pleased with the trip.
‘We’re a closer team than we were a week ago,’ he said.
--Ben Bolch