Edison has no trouble in Maui

A trip to Hawaii turned out to be a real holiday for the Edison High football team, which opened its season Saturday with a 43-10 victory over host Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium on the island of Maui.

The win snapped Edison’s two-game losing streak on the islands and improved the Chargers’ all-time record in Hawaii to 6-2.

Saturday’s game was the first between the Chargers and Lunas Edison’s junior varsity team also won handily, 35-8. The Edison entourage returned from Maui on Monday.

“Every kid got to play either in the varsity or JV game,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “The camaraderie was great and I think we got closer as a team. It was a great trip, a great game for us and we got a win.”

Junior Matt Viles, who took over the starting role at quarterback from Nick Crissman (now UCLA), put up some big numbers in his debut by completing 14 of 22 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns.

Three of those scoring passes went to junior receiver Michael Rivera and the other to junior running back Wade Houston. Viles, however, did throw two interceptions.

Sophomore Davion Orphey also got time in a quarterback and rushed for a touchdown. Orphey also hooked up with senior running back Preston Spence on a 45-yard TD pass play in the fourth quarter.

Edison won big despite turning the ball over four times.

“I saw a lot of positives in the game,” White said. “I thought the defense played pretty consistent and basically shut them down. A fumble return for a touchdown and interception return set up their field goal.

“I thought Matt (Viles) played well for his first game. Other than three plays, he had a great game. Our offensive line, which is basically a new line this year, blocked very well.”

Edison returns to action Sept. 5 with a nonleague road game at Long Beach Cabrillo.

In other prep football action, Fountain Valley begins its 2008 season Friday in Henderson, Nevada against Foothill. For Huntington Beach, Marina and Ocean View, those schools will scrimmage Sept. 5 and open the regular season the following week.

On Sept. 5, Ocean View scrimmages Santiago of Garden Grove at 3 p.m. and Huntington scrimmages JW North of Riverside later that day at Ocean View Stadium. Marina, meanwhile, scrimmages El Modena at 6 p.m. at Marina.

Ocean View begins the regular season Sept. 11 against Calvary Chapel (Santa Ana) at Orange Coast College. On Sept. 12, Huntington opens its season against JSerra at Saddleback College and Marina’s season begins that night at Capistrano Valley.