Chargers hoping to make run to playoffs in 2000

They have yet to play an official down in the 2000 high school

football season, but several of the Edison High varsity football team

members talked of making a statement this season.

It’s been three years since Edison made it to postseason play, and

with six returners on both side of the ball back for the upcoming

campaign, hopes are high in the Chargers camp.

“We have some talented kids back, and we’re looking for good things to

happen this year,” Edison Coach Dave White said during a brief break from

Thursday’s practice on what was the team’s official Photo Day. “We have

some key players back on offense, and we have the capability of being an

explosive offensive team.”

With the return of quarterback Richard Schwartz and running back

Darryl Poston, White could enjoy plenty of success in his 15th year as

head coach.

Schwartz, who has been offered a scholarship to the University of

California, Berkeley, threw for 1,900 yards and 15 touchdowns last year

as a junior. Also enjoying a spectacular junior season was Poston, who

rambled for 1,700 yards and a school record-tying 29 touchdowns.

Poston was named the Sunset League’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Schwartz also earned all-league status, as did top lineman Chris

Veneracion, a 6-foot-3, 260 senior who is being looked at by a few Ivy

League schools, and Seth Prelesnik, a 6-0, 200 linebacker who was

responsible for 120 tackles last year.

Throw talented receivers Christian Prelle and Denny Flanagan into the

mix, and White is right - Edison has a potent offense to work with.

“With Darryl in the backfield, and Christian and Denny at receiver,

Richard (Schwartz) could have a great year,” White said. “I thought he

had a real good junior year, and he really improved on that over the

summer. He has a real strong arm, and we hope to put it to use.”

Edison won its first five games last year, then hit a two-game slump.

The Chargers went on to a 7-3 finish overall, yet still didn’t receive a

Division I wild-card berth.

This year, Edison faces one of the most demanding nonleague schedules

in school history.

The Chargers open on the road against El Toro, host longtime nemesis

Capistrano Valley the following week, go to Dana Hills in week No. 3,

then wrap up the nonleague portion of the schedule against a pair of

parochial powers: defending Division I champion Mater Dei at Orange Coast

College, then Servite, at Cal State Fullerton.

A strong postseason showing is a must if the Chargers are to draw any

attention to their postseason worthiness. Going at least 3-2 in the

Sunset League race also is imperative.

Last year, Edison went 2-3 in league play, and it cost the Chargers.

Still, Thursday marked just the fourth day of that late August

tradition, Hell Week, so thoughts of how the league race will play out

was far from the forefront.

The only thing that mattered to White on this overcast morning, was

getting his players accustomed to the offensive and defensive schemes,

all in an effort to be prepared for the Sept. 8 opener against El Toro.

“We’re excited to get the season underway,” he added. “If these guys

jell on both sides of the ball, then we think we can have a real good

team on our hands.”