Heckel shows potential among tough critics

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So how did Garrett Heckel do as a replacement for UCLA-bound Nick Crissman, the Edison quarterback who recently underwent an appendectomy.

“I thought he did good once he settled down,” said Crissman, who was on the sidelines during No. 12 Edison’s 26-17 come-from-behind victory over No. 24 San Clemente. “I explained to him that he didn’t have to win the game by himself. It was his first varsity game starting, it’s hard to get mad at him.

“I’d give him a B-minus. He had some turnovers that hurt, but he pulled it out when we needed it most.”

Actually, Heckel looked really good, but it appeared the game was a little faster than the one he was used to on the junior varsity. He was still making reads when he should have been pumping the ball downfield. He showed that he had a good arm, and when he plowed over a defender for a 13-yard gain on a third-and-12 play, I thought that was the highlight of the night.

He finished 15 of 27 for 191 yards and three interceptions, two by A.J. Pasquale. Only one interception came in the second half.

“I had to step up and calm Garrett down,” said Areseo Lakey, who scored twice on runs in the fourth quarter for Edison. “He was pretty nervous.”

Coach Dave White said: “He did a nice job. He forced a couple of balls, but he did a lot of nice things. He did a pretty good job, enough for us to win.”

He will be better next week against L.A. Jordan, and next season when the job is his alone, he will be very good.

- Martin Henderson