PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Edison Wins Passing Duel With Barons

Edison needed a victory in the worst way Friday at Orange Coast College.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, it looked as if Edison had seized what it wanted. Quarterback Pat Markovsky had thrown three touchdown passes by then, and it appeared fifth-ranked Edison would soon be back in the playoff picture.

But the fifth-ranked Chargers were facing arch rival Fountain Valley, and nothing comes easy in these sorts of games. After weathering a rough third quarter, Edison finally held on for a 42-22 victory.

“It was do or die,” Edison Coach Dave White said.

A loss probably would have ruined the Chargers’ playoff hopes. With the victory, they scrambled back into contention. Edison is 6-2, 1-2 in Sunset League play. Fountain Valley is 4-4, 2-1.

Last week’s last-minute, 15-12, loss to top-ranked Los Alamitos could have sent the Chargers reeling.

“We sat in the locker room after the game--65 kids crying their eyes out,” White said. “We told them, ‘You have until Monday. Then it’s Baron week.’

“Actually, it might have given us confidence. We showed we could play with the best team in Orange County.”

And almost win.

Showing no ill effects from last week, Markovsky came out firing, hitting Brad Lisotto once and Mike Ogas twice for touchdowns and a 21-0 lead with 10 minutes 39 seconds left in the first half.

Fountain Valley quarterback Chris Ponchak struggled, misfiring on 12 of 18 first half passes. He and the Barons would rally in the third quarter, however.

Trailing, 35-10, Ponchak quickly threw touchdown passes of 50 yards, to Joey Rozek, and 49 yards, to Michael Rumford.

Suddenly, a 35-22 deficit with 35 seconds left in the third quarter didn’t look quite so bad.

But Fountain Valley ran out of gas in the fourth quarter, and Markovsky put the game out of reach with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Andy Linnen with 7:20 left in the game.

In the end, Ponchak won the duel of quarterbacks, completing 17 of 41 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Markovsky completed 14 of 26 for 228 yards. His four touchdown passes covered 40, 19, 5 and 47 yards.

Fountain Valley outgained Edison, 348-344.

“A lotta points scored,” White marveled. “You never know. This game is unbelievable.”

He meant the Edison-Fountain Valley series, which has seen a 0-0 tie and now this.