Another big test on horizon

Testing, 1-2-3...4.

From one big test to another, the Edison High football team has another exam it will attempt to pass Friday when the Chargers host Mater Dei at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College.

“We had a big test last week against Servite and we have another big one this week in Mater Dei,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “We lost a tough one to Servite, but now all of our focus is on Mater Dei. They are a very good team with an offense that really has been unstoppable.”

Last week, Edison had its chances to beat Servite, but the Chargers suffered their first loss of the season, 29-17. Despite dominating most of the first half, Edison trailed, 13-10, at the break.

Edison (3-1) held leads of 7-0 and 10-7 but never led again after the Friars’ Greg Portis bobbled a kickoff but recovered in time to turn the near-miscue into a 94-yard return for a touchdown.

Matt Viles threw for 280 yards for Edison and connected with Jeff Crissman on a 28-yard TD pass. Crissman finished with 122 yards receiving.

“I saw some really positive things in the game from our guys,” White said. “We just couldn’t convert in some key situations and we dropped some balls.

“Against Mater Dei, we can’t turn the ball over if we hope to win.”

Mater Dei, also 3-1, comes into the matchup ranked second in the latest CIF Pac-5 Division poll, where Edison is ranked eighth.

A week ago, the Monarchs had to rally to subdue Long Beach Jordan, 49-32. Jordan had taken a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and was down only 27-26 at the half.

Jaron Hytche rushed for 152 yards and scored six of the seven Mater Dei touchdowns. Quarterback Matt Barkley threw for 242 yards and a touchdown. The USC-bound Barkley, last year’s Gatorade National Prep Player of the Year, has a rifle for an arm but has been intercepted nine times in four games.

Mater Dei is the second test in a critical, four-game stretch for Edison. That stretch began last week with Servite and after Mater Dei, continues with Newport Harbor and sixth-ranked Los Alamitos in the first two weeks of Sunset League play.