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.”
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