Edison finishes off Mater Dei, 24-14

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COSTA MESA — What a difference a week makes for the Edison High football team.

The Chargers showed they can finish off a highly ranked team this week. Last week, they couldn’t against Servite, which left Coach Dave White saying he wanted his Chargers to improve and be more physical against Mater Dei in a key nonleague battle between a pair of highly-ranked CIF Pac-5 Division teams.

White got more than that Friday night at Orange Coast College.

Behind a defense that harassed Mater Dei quarterback Matt Barkley throughout the night and an offense that came up with several big plays, eighth-ranked Edison posted a 24-14 victory over a frustrated Monarchs team.

The Chargers sacked Barkley, the USC-bound quarterback, five times and Jeff Crissman and Matt Reza also came up with interceptions.

What’s more, Mater Dei imploded — the Monarchs had 16 penalties for 136 yards.

“We coaches got on the kids this week and challenged them to play better and more physical than they did last week against Servite. The kids did both and I’m really proud of them,” White said. “It was just about heart tonight and everyone, from starters to subs, did a fantastic job.

“Our defense was terrific. We did some nice things offensively although we did waste some scoring opportunities.”

White said that several Chargers suffered illnesses during the week and that quarterback Matt Viles was ill the day of the game. In addition, running back Preston Spence, starting at tailback for the injured Wade Houston, missed several days of practice due to a calf injury. Spence still started and went on to have a terrific game, although he did get banged up a bit on defense in the fourth quarter.

What’s more, two key Chargers, receiver Michael Rivera and running back Davion Orphey, both sustained concussions in the first quarter. Neither played again.

“We’ve had some tough moments this week and losing Rivera and Davion like that in the first quarter, could have really set us back,” White said. “We did miss them but several guys really stepped up to get the job done.”

Mater Dei (3-2) struck first, turning an Orphey fumble on Edison’s fifth play from scrimmage into a touchdown. Five plays after Aaron Vasquez’s recovery at the Edison 48-yard line, running back running back Jaron Hytche scored on a 10-yard run. Zac Chocek’s kick gave the Monarchs a 7-0 lead with 4:01 left in the opening quarter.

Hytche had 47 yards on five first-quarter carries but only touched the ball one more time in the half and the carry went for just a yard.

Edison, meanwhile, put up 10 points in the second quarter to go into the half with a 10-7 lead.

On the first play of the second quarter, Spence took a shovel pass from Viles and turned it into a 30-yard scoring play. Lucas Vanderman’s extra point tied the score. Late in the half, Donald Sneed and Will Andrew teamed to drop Barkley for a five-yard loss on third-and-17 from the Mater Dei 30. On the ensuing punt, a bad snap resulted in a fumble and Edison’s Matt Reza fell on the loose ball at the Monarchs 10 yard line with 1:29 to go before halftime. Three plays lost a yard but Vandeman was able to kick a 28-yard field goal with 15 seconds left.

Barkley was just five of 10 for 73 yards and was sacked three times in the half. Sneed had two of those tackles for losses.

A strange drive by Edison to start the second half resulted in the Chargers’ next score.

Faced with a third-and-21 from his own 29, Viles hit Crissman on a slip screen for 13 yards, well short of first-down territory. But on the play, the Monarchs were hit with a double-whammy: a roughing-the-passer call was followed by a personal-foul penalty. The 30 yards in penalties advanced the ball down to the Mater Dei 27. On third down, Viles found Crissman for 20 yards and the senior receiver’s over-the-shoulder grab gave Edison at first down at the four. On the next play, Spence catapulted into the end zone. Vandeman’s kick made it 17-7 with 9:12 to play in the third.

“That was a big drive for us,” White said. “We had some momentum going into the half and that really helped us stay in control. But we knew the game was far from over.”

And it was.

Edison wasted an opportunity to pad its lead when Crissman intercepted Barkley at the Mater Dei 33 four plays after Spence had scored. The Chargers reached the four-yard line but the drive stalled. Vandeman connected on a 20-yard field goal but the Chargers were called for a motion penalty. Vandeman’s ensuing try, this one from 25 yards, was partially blocked at the line of scrimmage and the Chargers came away empty.

Barkley made Edison pay, too. Just five plays later, Dylan Price scored from three yards out and Chocek’s kick pulled the Monarchs to within 17-14 with 6:59 to play.

Barkley made a huge throw during the drive. Facing third-and-17 from his own 13, he hit Christian Maldonado on a slant pass at midfield and then Maldonado zig-zagged his way for 25 more yards down to the Edison 25.

But whatever momentum the Monarchs may have gained from the sudden strike, the Chargers wiped out in a heartbeat.

Edison needed just two plays to regain a 10-point cushion. On first down from the Edison 22, Viles found Reza for 21 yards to move the ball out to the 43. On the next play, Spence burst through the line and raced 57 yards for a touchdown. Vandeman, who had four touchbacks on five kickoffs in the game, added the conversion to make it 24-14 with 6:16 remaining.

Barkley, who finished with 208 yards through the air, did move Mater Dei down to the Edison 14-yard line late in the game but his fourth down pass sailed over the head of an open Derek Campbell at the four yard line and Edison took over with 1:25 remaining.

The Chargers then ran out the clock to record their fourth win of the season.

Edison, now 4-1 overall, is idle next week.

“We’ll enjoy this one for a little while,” White said. “It’s nice to have next week off but now comes the Sunset League. Nothing will be easy there.”

MIKE SCIACCA covers sports. He can be reached at (714) 966-4611 or by e-mail at [email protected].