Chargers cruise by Artesia

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The play that opened the second quarter also opened the floodgates.

It was one of many big plays for the Edison High football team Friday night, a 41-yard pass over the middle from senior quarterback Matt Viles to senior receiver Jeff Trojan.

But after that play, the offense just clicked, as the Chargers scored 30 points in that second quarter en route to a 36-0 season-opening shutout of Artesia at Huntington Beach High.

“It’s first game, you know,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “It’s not going to be a perfect scenario. It’s been a long time since we’ve played a game, and there’s some jitters. But, you know, we kind of settled down a little bit.”

A fumble and a turnover on downs ended successive drives in the first quarter, keeping the Chargers scoreless. But an overmatched Artesia squad couldn’t do that for long.

After Trojan’s reception, Davion Orphey scored on a three-yard touchdown run. Edison then got a safety and, on its first ensuing play from scrimmage, Michael Rivera scored on a 57-yard reverse with 8:25 to go in the half.

“Everybody woke up,” said senior running back Wade Houston, who added a seven-yard touchdown run later in the quarter. He finished with 81 yards rushing and also caught three passes for 53 more yards. “That’s what it was. The [offensive] line made big holes and they just did excellent.”

By the end of the first half, backup quarterback Steven Andrew was in. He led the Chargers’ final drive of the half, culminating on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Trojan.

Edison scored again midway through the third when senior running back Jonathan Cross found the end zone from 35 yards out, on his first carry off the game. And, by the fourth quarter, third-string sophomore quarterback Bryce Campbell was in.

“It’s really good to get the young people in,” Houston said. “In case some kids get hurt, they’ll be able to step up.”

Nobody got seriously hurt Friday night on either team, but Artesia quarterback Anthony Johnson was probably feeling plenty sore. He fought gamely, passing and running, but the Pioneers failed to get their rushing attack on track.

Artesia carried the ball 22 times for a net total of a single yard.

“We were flying around pretty good; we were swarming on defense,” White said. “That’s how we play at this school and I was proud of that.”

Four Chargers — including Trojan (58), Houston (53), Dylan Leener (36) and Orphey (30) finished with 30 or more receiving yards.

Defensively, junior end Charles Burks had a sack and nearly another, forcing a Johnson fumble that was recovered by senior linebacker Shaun McLaughlin in the first quarter. McLaughlin also had a sack, and sophomore Gavin Perdomo intercepted a pass in the final minute of the game.

Edison, ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division preseason poll, now prepares for Long Beach Wilson Thursday, also at Huntington Beach High.