Paradise found

Mike Sciacca

Returning to familiar ground is the theme for the football

programs at Edison and Ocean View high schools.

Edison, which lost to Long Beach Poly last Dec. 8 at Edison Field

for the CIF Southern Section Division I title, opens the 2002 season

earlier than a majority of county schools.

Friday night in Hawaii, the Chargers will begin their 2002

campaign against host Lolani High in a 7 p.m. kickoff.

“We’re looking forward to a great trip,” Edison coach Dave White

said. “We’ve really enjoyed ourselves in the past and this year

should be no different.”

This will be Edison’s sixth trip to the islands. The Chargers will

be looking to boost their all-time record to 5-1 against Hawaiian

schools.

Edison is coming off a spectacular 11-1-1 season that culminated

in the 2001 Division I title game appearance, the school’s first

final since it won the CIF Big 5 title in 1985.

The Chargers lost several key players to graduation but also

return several skill players.

One of them is senior Tommy Grady, who threw for 2,791 yards and

33 touchdowns with just three interceptions last year.

“Tommy’s got a great arm and is our leader out there,” White said

Grady, who was named the Sunset League’s 2001 Offensive Player of the

Year.

Edison’s offense also will be bolstered by second-team all-league

lineman and senior, Jon Simpson, and junior wide receiver Matt White.

The defense, which at times overpowered teams last year, will be

led by senior linebacker Bubba Reynolds, a first-team all-league

pick; a pair of second team all-league selections in senior linemen

Sean Campregher and Kevin Cone; and senior strong safety Dayne

Acosta.

Added to the mix are several newcomers who White feels will make

an impact, including three transfers: senior running back Andy Avila,

who comes from Calvary Chapel; senior wide receiver Travis Simon from

Fountain Valley; and Nate Mitani, a junior wide receiver and safety

from Villa Park.

“We have the potential to be a very good football team and compete

for the Sunset League championship,” White said. “We should go to the

playoffs for the third straight year.”

Across town at Ocean View, the Seahawks are staying put in

Huntington Beach for their opener, and Harold Eggers is returning

back to the fold.

Eggers, who had coached three years at Ocean View, left the school

last year to become head coach at Norwalk High.

“It’s nice to be back,” Eggers said. “These first few weeks back

are always busy. We have some work to do.”

Ocean View won three games a year ago and was awarded a forfeit

victory from Tustin.

Eggers has eight players returning to the offense from last year,

including All-Golden West League kicker, senior Rick Sweetin, who

also plays at running back and linebacker.

The backfield is set with junior quarterback Alex Hickerson (6-4,

200) and senior running back Andre Valenzuela (5-11, 210).

Several players will play on both sides of the ball, Eggers said.

“We will have a lot of kids playing both ways. I guess we will go

back to iron man football at Ocean View,” Eggers said.

Eggers gets his first look at the Seahawks on Friday when they

scrimmage at Garden Grove High.

“This season will test our mental and physical toughness,” he

said. “We will be few in numbers but large in heart. We hope to

continue to light up the airways with the Seahawk passing game led by

Alex Hickerson and continue to swarm like mad dogs on defense.

“Our running backs and linebackers have a lot of experience and

our success on offense depends on how well and fast our offensive

line develops.”