Chargers work overtime to edge Mater Dei

SANTA ANA — The Edison High football team probably doesn’t want to be known as a second-half team, but another comeback was in the works Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

Now the Chargers can say they’re an overtime team, too.

Edison senior quarterback Matt Viles scored on seven-yard quarterback draw in the second overtime and the Chargers held on for a thrilling 36-29 nonleague victory over Mater Dei.

It wasn’t settled until the Monarchs got the ball back and moved the ball back to the Edison five-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, a running play was stuffed for a one-yard loss by senior defensive end Luke Gane, ending the game.

“My pregame speeches aren’t working,” Edison Coach Dave White said after the game where he watched his team rally from a halftime deficit for the third week in a row. “I’m going to have to use my halftime speech before the game.”

Edison (5-0), the top-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division poll and ranked No. 6 in the state by Calhisports.com, played without senior linebacker Jordan Zuwmalt (hand). The Chargers were also down most of the game against Mater Dei (3-2). The deficit was at 26-14 late in the third quarter, before senior running back Wade Houston scored on fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line.

The Monarchs were driving to start the fourth, but a pass to A.J. Roth in the flat ended up a bad idea. Edison’s Luke Eddy saw the play coming and popped Roth, making him fumble. Jeff Trojan picked up the fumble and carried it 46 yards to the Mater Dei 24.

Six plays later, on third-and-goal, Viles was nearly sacked. With a Monarchs lineman wrapped around his ankles, he somehow kept his balance long enough to hook up with Dylan Leener on an eight-yard touchdown.

“I knew if I just held on for one more second he’d come across,” Viles said. “I just tried to hold on.”

After Viles passed to Trojan for the conversion, it was 29-26, Edison, with under eight minutes to go. Viles, who had just one interception in the Chargers’ first four games, had three Friday night, but also threw three touchdown passes and the final rushing score.

Mater Dei, utilizing shifty running from junior back Corbin Anderson (141 yards on 14 carries), added a field goal to tie the score at 29-all. But another Monarchs field goal attempt was blocked by Eddy with 1:12 to play.

Leener also caught a 34-yard touchdown pass in the first half, and Michael Rivera caught a 14-yard touchdown pass as well. Rivera was the favorite target, finishing with 89 yards on nine catches. Houston had 102 rushing yards and was also effective in the passing game, catching seven passes for 50 yards.

“[Viles] was up and down just like our whole team was,” White said. “But when it was crunch time, he made some big plays. He’s a winner, he’s a great kid. A lot of these kids are great kids.

“Mater Dei played a great game and we were out of sync a lot. We didn’t play as good as we’re capable of on either side of the ball, but we found a way to win. I think that’s a sign of a good team, not playing your best game and still beating a really good opponent.”

Mater Dei’s field goal attempt in the first overtime went wide left, meaning if the Chargers scored they won. But Viles’ third interception brought the game to the second overtime.

Edison started the overtime this time but Viles, composed as ever, drove the 25 yards in five plays and found the end zone, before Gane’s big tackle on fourth-and-one helped preserve the victory.

Despite being down at halftime of each of its last three games, also including Dana Hills and Servite, Edison has outscored those opponents by a combined 63-12 in the second half and Friday’s overtimes.

“I’d say we’re a second-half team, but if we want to win our league games, we have to come out in the first half and play a lot better,” Viles said. “It was pretty bad tonight but I’m happy we got the win.”

The Chargers have a bye next week and open Sunset League play against Esperanza Oct. 16 at Valencia High.