Edison takes home title for White

LA MIRADA — Thirty years ago, when Dave White took over the Edison High football program, rumor has it that no one called the school to inquire about the job. All along, everyone knew White was going to become the school’s fourth coach.

He played quarterback at the school for the first three coaches. He then coached under the third coach, Bill Workman, for seven years.

When Workman called it quits, the Chargers turned to White in 1986. This is White’s 31st and final year, as he’s retiring.

While Edison’s search to replace White has begun, White will get to coach the Chargers for at least another week.

White is not finished leading the Chargers, not after winning his second CIF Southern Section title in charge of Edison.

White’s No. 2-seeded Chargers went on the road and routed No. 1 La Mirada, 44-24, in the Division 3 final on Friday night. The win most likely secured Edison a berth into a CIF State Southern California Regional Bowl Game.

A wet and emotional White struggled to describe how he felt afterward. The 60-year-old wiped away a couple of tears.

“This team has been special the whole year, and we’ve just kind of gotten better and better,” White said. “We don’t really talk about it, but I know they’re doing something a little bit extra for me. It’s a special group of kids.”

The special season should continue for White’s Chargers (13-1). They learn on Sunday whether they made it to the state tournament.

Edison knocked off La Mirada (11-3), ranked No. 15 in the state by CalHiSports.com. The No. 16 Chargers got past the Matadores by mostly attacking on the ground.

Running back Jack Carmichael rushed 15 times for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He had 163 yards and the scores in the first half, helping Edison build a 28-10 lead.

Quarterback Griffin O’Connor also hurt La Mirada running the ball. He rushed for two touchdowns, the first closed out the first half and the second in the fourth quarter sealed Edison’s ninth straight win.

“I saw some moments where I could pull it [down] and get my legs going a little bit,” said O’Connor, who finished with 10 carries for 55 yards.

O’Connor, a junior, wasn’t as efficient through the air, completing only of 15 of 30 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown. But in the championship game, O’Connor did more than enough to take down the Matadores, as well as two Edison single-season school records. He has 3,217 yards and 34 touchdowns through the air.

O’Connor’s longest pass went for 90 yards, wide receiver David Atencio doing most of the work. Atencio, who had four receptions for 120 yards, got the Chargers to La Mirada’s five-yard line with less than four minutes left. A play later, O’Connor scored on a five-yard run.

O’Connor’s night didn’t start so well, and it wasn’t his fault. Shaun Swayne intercepted his tipped pass with 10:34 left in the first quarter. Kenny Carmichael helped give Edison the ball back 25 seconds later.

The senior defensive end came off the left edge and sacked quarterback Tristan Meyer, forcing him to fumble. Edison defensive tackle Melvin Bowden pounced on the ball on La Mirada’s 47.

It was the Kenny and Jack Carmichael show early on for Edison.

The Chargers, taking over near midfield, wasted little time. Kenny’s younger brother, Jack, ran for 15 yards on first down, and when the offense faced a fourth-and-six situation, O’Connor dumped the ball off to Jack, gaining seven yards to move the chains.

A play later, Carmichael got the ball again. He rushed for a 21-yard touchdown, allowing the Chargers to go ahead first with 9:13 left in the first quarter.

La Mirada was able to get within 7-3, thanks to Nick Hernandez running eight times for 68 yards. The five was as far as the Matadores went, settling for Brandon Petruescu’s 22-yard field goal.

The next four series featured little offense, each team punting twice. The first time Edison got the ball in the second quarter it aired it out. O’Connor completed passes to McCade Barrett, Shaun Colamonico and E.J. Ginnis. The last two went to Ginnis, who found himself wide open on the right. The senior caught a pass and cut back inside to complete a 14-yard touchdown.

The score gave O’Connor his 34th of the season, making him Edison’s single-season touchdown passing leader. He and Nick Crissman shared the mark.

In the final three minutes in the first half, the Chargers looked like they would run away with their second section title since 2012. Carmichael broke a 72-yard run to set up his six-yard touchdown, and O’Connor scored from 11 yards out with 22 seconds remaining before halftime.

Then Barrett picked off a Meyer pass about 4½ minutes into the second half, returning it 91 yards for a touchdown. The Chargers led, 34-10, but La Mirada rallied.

The Matadores scored two touchdowns during a 74-second span in the third quarter. Meyer hooked up with receiver Jeremy Clark on 13- and 19-yard touchdown passes, cutting the deficit to 34-24.

Edison didn’t allow La Mirada to score again. With less than five minutes left to play, the Matadores turned the ball over on downs inside the Chargers’ five-yard line. Instead of going to Hernandez (26 carries for 172 yards), La Mirada relied on Meyer’s arm. Meyer, who completed 27 of 45 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns, threw it on third and fourth downs, each pass fell incomplete in the end zone.

White and the Chargers were minutes away from claiming the section crown, denying the Matadores from going back-to-back and returning to state.

“I went to my first three CIF [section] championship [games] in [the top division] and lost all three,” White said. “I finally won one … four years ago, and this is even more special. It’s been an honor and a privilege to coach at Edison High, my alma mater.”

CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs

Championship

Edison 44, La Mirada 24

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Edison 7 – 21 – 6 – 10 — 44

La Mirada 3 – 7 – 14 – 0 — 24

FIRST QUARTER

E – J. Carmichael 21 run (Morrell kick), 9:13.

LM – Petruescu 22 FG, 3:51.

SECOND QUARTER

E – Ginnis 14 pass from O’Connor (Morrell kick), 7:31.

LM – Meyer 1 run (Petruescu kick), 3:45.

E – J. Carmichael 6 run (Morrell kick), 2:54.

E – O’Connor 11 run (Morrell kick), :22.

THIRD QUARTER

E – Barrett 91 INT return (kick blocked), 7:23.

LM – Clark 13 pass from Meyer (pass failed), 4:30.

LM – Clark 19 pass from Meyer (Anderson pass from Meyer), 3:16.

FOURTH QUARTER

E – Morrell 30 FG, 9:17.

E – O’Connor 5 run (Morrell kick), 3:32.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

E – J. Carmichael, 15-179, 2 TDs.

LM – Hernandez, 26-172.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

E – O’Connor, 15-30-1, 232, 1 TD.

LM – Meyer, 27-45-1, 246, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

E – Atencio, 4-120.

LM – Clark, 8-84, 2 TDs.