Chargers get a jump on local prep gridders

OK, so it isn’t fair to the four other local high school football

teams that Edison High will be enjoying a trip to the islands, while they

are left here to toil in the humidity of the mainland.

What’s worse, the Chargers also get to open up the 1999 prep season a

week sooner than their district brethren.

‘This is a trip we’ve been looking forward to for a long time,’ Edison

Coach Dave White said of his team’s upcoming Hawaiian excursion. ‘A lot

of people put in a lot of hard word to make this thing (trip) happen, and

we’re excited to be playing in Hawaii.’

The Charger entourage -- roughly 187, in all - leaves Sunday for the

island of Oahu and returns on Sept. 5.

In the course of the upcoming week, Edison will launch the local 1999

prep football season by battling host Punahou on Thursday, Sept. 2, at

the site of the annual Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium.

‘That’s a real plus for these kids,’ White said. ‘They’re excited to be

playing in a stadium where some of their favorite pro players have

played.

‘This kicks off a very competitive schedule for us. We’ll be on the road

for a while.’

After the Punahou battle in Oahu, Edison returns to Southern California

and to the road for its next two games, a Sept. 10 game against Cypress

at Western High’s Handel Stadium, and a Sept. 17 meeting at Capistrano

Valley, a longtime, nonleague nemesis for the Chargers.

With the other four local prep teams still having the next 12 days to

prepare for the upcoming season, here’s a sneak peak at each team’s

schedule for the 1999 campaign:

EDISON CHARGERS

Sept. 02...at Punahou (Hawaii)

Sept. 10...at Cypress (Western High)

Sept. 17...at Capistrano Valley

Sept. 30...vs. Long Beach Wilson

Oct. 08...vs. Arcadia

Oct. 15...at Marina

Oct. 22...Los Alamitos

Oct. 28...at Esperanza

Nov. 05...Fountain Valley

Nov. 12...at Huntington Beach

HOME SITE: Huntington Beach High

GAME TIME: 7 p.m.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY BARONS

Sept. 10...Dana Hills

Sept. 17...at Centennial/Corona

Sept. 24...La Mirada

Oct. 02...at Servite (at CSUF, 2 p.m.)

Oct. 08...Trabuco Hills

Oct. 15...Huntington Beach

Oct. 22...at Marina

Oct. 28...at Los Alamitos

Nov. 05...at Edison

Nov. 12...Esperanza

HOME SITE: Huntington Beach HS

GAME TIME: 7 p.m. (unless noted otherwise)

HUNTINGTON BEACH OILERS

Sept. 09...Downey

Sept. 17...at Torrance Sept. 24...at Long Beach Millikan

Oct. 01...Paramount

Oct. 08...at Dana Hills

Oct. 15...at Fountain Valley

Oct. 21...Esperanza

Oct. 29...Marina

Nov. 05...at Los Alamitos

Nov. 12...Edison

HOME SITE: Huntington Beach High

GAME TIME: 7 p.m.

MARINA VIKINGS

Sept. 09...at Corona del Mar (at Newport Harbor High)

Sept. 16...Newport Harbor

Sept. 23... at Upland

Oct. 01...Westminster

Oct. 08...at Mission Viejo

Oct. 15...Edison

Oct. 22...Fountain Valley

Oct. 29...at Huntington Beach

Nov. 04...at Esperanza

Nov. 12...Los Alamitos

HOME SITE: Westminster High

OCEAN VIEW SEAHAWKS

Sept. 10...Twentynine Palms (at Westminster High)

Sept. 17...Garden Grove

Sept. 23...at Century

Oct. 01...at Laguna Beach

Oct. 08...at Troy

Oct. 15...at Saddleback

Oct. 23...at Santa Ana

Oct. 29...Westminster

Nov. 05...Santiago

Nov. 12...Tustin

HOME SITES: Westminster High, Huntington Beach High

GAME TIME: 7 p.m.