Chargers stunned, shut down

ANAHEIM — Coach Dave White instructed his players to turn around after the game, and watch the rows of black uniforms standing just feet away.

Servite was going through its postgame “hut drill,” and the Edison High football team watched every second on the damp field after the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division championship game.

The Friars executed as well on the field during the game, too. They ended the Chargers’ season Saturday night by pulling off a 16-6 upset victory before an announced crowd of 11,860 at Angel Stadium.

Edison (13-1), which had passed its way to so many victories over the course of its remarkable season, couldn’t do it one more time. Not with the rain, heavy at times, coming down during a first half that saw the Chargers gain just 35 yards of total offense, just five of those on a single completed pass.

Even in the second half, the rain stopped but the field was very damp, making it tough for precision passing routes. But the Chargers gave credit to the Friars (13-1), who avenged their only loss of the season after falling to Edison, 23-9, in a nonleague game in September.

Postgame the skies were clear, but the water coming down was on the cheeks of Edison players.

“You’ve got to play in the conditions,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “They did a better job than we did. We turned it over three times in the first 14 minutes of the game. But it was tough. The elements were tough for us.”

The three Edison turnovers, two fumbles and a botched punt reception, only resulted in a 3-0 halftime lead for Servite. The Friars missed two first-half field goals, and Edison senior Jeff Trojan blocked another.

“We didn’t play good at all in the first half and it was only 3-0, so we knew we still had two quarters of football,” Edison senior quarterback Matt Viles said. “One touchdown and we’re back in the lead, but [Servite] came out and they played a great game tonight.”

Indeed, Edison, ranked No. 2 in the state by Calhisports.com, still struggled to move the ball in the second half.

Meanwhile, Servite was building a 10-0 lead midway through the third quarter on senior quarterback Cody Fajardo’s 11-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Ainslie Johnson in the corner of the end zone.

“Defense wins championships,” said Servite senior strong safety Jacob Slemmer, who recovered two of the fumbles. “We were up 3-0, and that was a big enough lead. We just came out ready to shut them down for another half. If they couldn’t score, they couldn’t win.

“It does feel good, coming in with only one loss and you’re playing a school that gave you that loss. You don’t usually get a second chance against a team.”

Edison responded. On fourth-and-goal, Viles’ one-yard touchdown pass to senior Jordan Zumwalt (the extra-point was blocked) brought the Chargers within 10-6 with 11:13 left. And, after forcing Servite to a three-and-out midway through the fourth quarter, it looked like the Chargers might drive for the winning score after they got the ball on their own 4-yard line with 5:45 left in the game.

Viles converted two fourth-down plays on the drive, one on a quarterback sneak and one when pass interference was called. But, after getting a first down at the Servite 46, four straight incomplete passes resulted in a turnover on downs.

Servite wasted no time, as two plays later senior Chris Nicholls bounced outside to the right and scored on a 54-yard run, giving Servite a 16-6 lead with just 1:55 left.

Edison was unable to get a first down on its ensuing possession.

“The Servite defense is tough,” said Viles, who was held to a season-low 82 passing yards and completed just 9-of-28. “Their whole team is really tough out there. They executed really well and they outplayed us.”

For the game, Fajardo ran for 116 yards and passed for 83 more. His 46-yard run in the first quarter set up the Friars’ opening field goal.

Senior Wade Houston had 55 yards rushing for Edison. Trojan led the receivers with 47 yards on two catches.

“The brotherhood,” Trojan said when asked what he’d miss most about this year’s team. “My boys played hard. They just executed better than we did.”

White will miss his senior-dominated group as well. A tough rain-soaked loss didn’t change that fact Saturday night, nor does the fact that he missed his third chance this decade to secure his first CIF title in 24 years as head coach.

Edison also lost in the 2001 final to Long Beach Poly and the 2006 final to Orange Lutheran.

“You could either look at it that we can’t win the big one or we’re jinxed,” White said. “Or, you could say that this program’s been to the finals three times this decade. The Buffalo Bills, people call Marv Levy and that team a bunch of chokers, but they got to the Super Bowl four straight years [from 1990-93]. The glass is half-empty or half-full, and I think it’s half-full.

“I think our program’s had a great decade and I’m proud of these guys. I wish they would have won it, for them, but I’m proud of them.”

Servite will likely move on to play in a CIF State bowl game. The pairings were set to be released Sunday afternoon.