High School Football: Edison holds off Stallions
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — It was telling, to be sure, that the San Juan Hills High football team, still one year away from a full decade of varsity competition, ultimately ran out of time against visiting Edison on Friday night.
The Chargers (4-0), ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 3, held off the No. 5-ranked Stallions, perhaps cashing in a little of their championship pedigree in the process.
Seemingly comfortably ahead, 24-10, with the final period winding down, Edison was stunned by an unlikely 59-yard touchdown pass that pulled the Stallions within a touchdown with 4:27 left.
After Edison failed to get a first down, San Juan Hills (3-1) took over following a punt on its own 43-yard line with 2:39 left.
The Stallions moved the ball to the Edison 9, before a one-yard sack and a spiked pass brought up fourth down from the 10 with five seconds left.
Junior cornerback McCade Barrett was in perfect position in the end zone in front of San Juan Hills receiver Jacob Huff, who never got his hands on Rodriguez’s pass as time expired.
Barrett’s 17-yard touchdown reception from Griffin O’Connor with 7:59 left in the third quarter, wound up being the game-winner for the visitors.
“We did not make it easy, that’s for sure,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “[The Stallions] had a lot to do with it, but we had penalties just like last week, so we have to get a whole lot better.
“Up, 24-10, we were looking good and we had the ball. But [the tipped reception for San Juan Hills’ final touchdown] changed everything.”
What did not change was stout defense by the Chargers, for whom senior defensive end Spencer Bazer had three of their four sacks.
Bazer nailed Rodriguez for a one-yard loss at the 10-yard line in the final series, forcing the Stallions to scramble to spike the ball and set up one last play.
“Defense was pretty solid,” White said. “Their two touchdowns were on a trick play and a tipped pass. But offense didn’t block very well and we didn’t make our reads. Our best receiver got hurt [senior Shaun Colamonico was limited to one catch for 35 yards before exiting with a bone bruise he sustained the previous week against Canyon].”
Two interceptions and a 45-yard flea-flicker for a touchdown helped San Juan Hills remain within 17-10 at halftime.
The two interceptions produced the hosts’ first 10 points.
Edison erased a 7-0 deficit when junior tailback Jack Carmichael capped a 12-play, 83-yard procession with a one-yard run with 3:14 left in the first quarter.
With Edison’s defense forcing three straight three-and-outs, the Chargers used some fortuitous field position to score 10 points on their final two first-half possessions to take a 17-10 lead.
San Juan Hills managed just two first downs before halftime.
Edison’s Jack Morrell kicked a 36-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
Edison was also hampered by four errant or mishandled shotgun snaps in the opening two quarters, though it managed to recover all four of the loose balls.
O’Connor completed 12 of 26 for 195 yards and two touchdowns, with senior receiver EJ Ginnis hauling in eight catches for 136 yards and one touchdown.
Carmichael finished with 98 yards on 22 rushing attempts.
Jonathan Moreida, Nick Nguyen and Parker Thomas also had big plays for the Edison defense.
Nonleague
Edison 24, San Juan Hills 17
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Edison 7 – 10 – 7 – 0 – 24
SJ Hills 7 – 3 – 0 – 7 – 17
FIRST QUARTER
SJH – Cazel 45 pass from Rodriguez (Montgomery kick), 7:44.
Edi – Carmichael 1 run (Morrell kick), 3:14.
SECOND QUARTER
SJH – Montgomery 26 FG, 9:25.
Edi – Ginnis 24 pass from O’Connor (Morrell kick), 1:27.
Edi – Morrell 36 FG, 0:00.
THIRD QUARTER
Edi – Barrett 17 pass from O’Connor (Morrell kick), 7:59.
FOURTH QUARTER
Edi – Bjorkman 59 pass from Rodriguez (Montgomery kick), 4:27.
INDIDIVUAL RUSHING
Edi – Charmichael, 22-98, 1 TD.
SJH – Suchesk, 8-16.
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
Edi – O’Connor, 12-26-2, 195, 2 TDs.
SJH – Martinez, 14-26-0, 210, 2 TDs.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
Edi – Ginnis, 8-136, 1 TD.
SJH – McCluskey, 8-84.
