Edison can’t stop Portis

NORWALK — Three big plays by Greg Portis was just what Servite needed to turn the tide Friday against Edison.

In a battle between two CIF Pac-5 Division top 10 teams, Portis scored on a 44-yard run and 94-yard kickoff return in the first half and the seventh-ranked Friars went on to record a 29-17 victory over the fourth-ranked Chargers at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Edison’s defense had contained the Friars’ star running back early on, limiting the diminutive back to just 12 yards on his first five carries. But on his sixth rush, Portis went up the middle 44 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, 7-7, early in the second quarter.

After Edison had taken a 10-7 lead on a 40-yard field goal by Lucas Vandeman, Portis bobbled the ensuing kickoff, scooped up the loose ball at his own six and then outraced Edison’s kick coverage 94 yards for a TD that put the Friars ahead to stay with 2:18 to play in the second quarter.

Servite (3-1) went on to lead, 13-10, at the half, despite being outgained by the Chargers in total yardage in the first half, 244-135.

Portis, who rushed for 117 yards, capped a three-touchdown night with a 28-yard scoring run that iced the game with 1:50 left to play.

Edison, which lost for the first time this season to fall to 3-1, had its chances at its fourth victory but the Chargers, who came in averaging 51 points a game, let several slip away.

Trailing 22-17 late in the fourth quarter with the ball at his own 41, Edison quarterback Matt Viles eluded a sack, stepped up and sent a perfect pass downfield to Michael Rivera who had the ball for a split second but then bobbled it off his finger tips and it fell incomplete at the Servite 13 with 2:24 remaining. Three incompletions later gave Servite the ball on downs there and Portis scored four plays later.

The Chargers also let a golden scoring opportunity get by on their first drive following the opening kickoff, a near-perfect march that took them from their own 20 to the Servite four in eight plays. Davion Orphey scored on an apparent four-yard run but a holding call against Edison negated the score. The Chargers had to settle for a field goal attempt but Vandeman was wide right from 28 yards.

Edison scored on its next possession, another easy march that ended on a 28-yard pass from Viles to a wide open Jeff Crissman.

Orphey scored on a four-yard run late in the third quarter to pull Edison to within 19-17 but the Chargers could get no closer.

Viles threw for 280 yards but was intercepted twice and sacked six times. Crissman had a big night with 122 receiving yards.

Edison faces another stiff challenge next Friday when the Chargers host Mater Dei at Orange Coast College.

Other Friday scores:

 Fountain Valley 48, Aliso Niguel 14

Kyle Middlebrooks rushed for three touchdowns, Dylan Garcia ran for two more and quarterback Dominic Ragland and Artie O’Keefe hooked up on two scoring passes as Fountain Valley blew past host Alison Niguel. The win was the second straight for the Barons who improved to 3-1. The Wolverines fell to 0-4.

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