Chargers coast into semis, 47-16

COSTA MESA — The last time he played Dana Hills, senior quarterback Matt Viles had a career night in September and broke a school record with 486 yards passing.

This time, he didn’t come close, but that was only because he was out of the game in the fourth quarter enjoying the Chargers’ blowout victory.

Edison scored 34 unanswered points in its 47-16 win over Dana Hills Friday night at Orange Coast College, in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division quarterfinals.

“He starts it all, he’s the quarterback,” Coach Dave White said of Viles, who had 216 yards at halftime and finished with 267 yards and four touchdowns. “He had a great night. Our receivers did a great job, we pass-blocked really well, and the defense played great. It’s just a great team effort. To beat the same team twice in a year is hard to do. To be 12-0 is really hard to do, playing the Mater Deis and Servites and playing in our [Sunset League]. There’s four real good teams left; we’re just happy to be one of them.”

The Chargers will face Moore League champion Lakewood (11-1) in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday night, back at Orange Coast College.

Lakewood rallied to beat Bishop Amat, 34-17, in another quarterfinal game. In the other Pac-5 semifinal now set, Mission Viejo (12-0) plays Servite (11-1) next Friday.

Edison had to rally from a halftime deficit in its first victory over the Dolphins (9-3). But, as White pointed out, that was not uncommon this season for the Chargers.

“We’re used to momentum changes,” he said.

It was true Friday night. The Chargers were up just 13-9 early in the second quarter, after Dana Hills senior quarterback Josh Dean scored on a 10-yard run and the Dolphins added a field goal. But the score wouldn’t stay close for long.

Edison junior tailback Davion Orphey (62 yards on seven carries) had a 15-yard touchdown run up the middle, then just before halftime, Viles hooked up with senior Jeff Trojan on a five-yard touchdown strike at the near right pylon, giving Edison a 27-9 halftime lead.

The Chargers then scored on their first possession of the second half on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Trojan, who finished with six catches for 111 yards.

Senior Wade Houston added a two-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter. Then, with the reserves in, senior quarterback Stephen Andrew scored from a yard out with 7:08 left in the game, expanding the lead to 47-9.

Senior Dylan Leener also caught two first-half touchdown passes for the Chargers, giving them a 13-0 first quarter lead before Dana rallied a bit.

“They didn’t blitz as much this game,” Viles said. “They ran more zone, but our receivers did a great job tonight. The receivers, line and running backs, they’re all smart players. We were all on the same page tonight. It was clicking.”

Defensively, Trojan had an interception and the line also did a solid job stopping Dana Hills senior quarterback Josh Dean on fourth-down attempts, where the Dolphins were unsuccessful in four attempts. That also gave Viles and the offense great field position throughout the game.

In six Edison first-half possessions, the Chargers’ worst starting position was their own 34-yard line.

“That’s huge,” Viles said. “We had the ball around the 50-yard-line most of the time, it seemed like. It’s always nice to start your drives out there. The defense made it a lot easier on us.”

One negative was that starting senior linebacker Shaun McLaughlin was injured in the second quarter, attempting to plant his foot in the turf at OCC. White said he likely tore his ACL, which would end his season. Senior receiver Michael Rivera also suffered a hamstring injury in the second half, the extent of which was unknown.

The Chargers also played without junior end Charles Burks (cracked fibula), who had his foot in a walking boot. White said junior Alema Atoafa and sophomore Nicholas Masaniai rotated in to help the defense.

“Our linebacking crew has been really special, with [Jordan] Zumwalt, [Steven] Malone and McLaughlin,” White said. “[Losing McLaughlin], that’s going to hurt us...We’re beat up but in the 13th game of the year, a lot of teams are beat up, I guess.”