So, it could have been 2-0 instead

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Sometimes, it’s best to cut your losses. That might have helped No. 10 Edison on Friday in its 6-0 loss to No 8 Servite at Orange Coast College.

Punter Lucas Vanderman, a junior, dropped a snap in the end zone. With Servite players converging on him, he could have fallen on the ball or thrown it out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Instead, he kicked it -- to the 20-yard line.

That short field was enough for Servite, which needed only one touchdown to turn back Edison. The winning drive was culminated on its second play, when Johnny McEntee passed to D.J. Shoemate, who carried the ball for 12 yards with 3:07 left in the second quarter. The point-after attempt missed wide to the right, and the Servite defense held on with its second shutout in three games.

Should Vanderman have taken the safety?

‘He shouldn’t have bobbled it,’ Edison Coach Dave White said. ‘He had time to get it off. It’s hard to tell a kid what to do in a situation like that.’

Vanderman had a tough night. His first punt attempt was blocked by Shoemate and went for only eight yards. His second went for 10. Shoemate also blocked a punt by Vanderman’s replacement, Matt Parkovich.

Edison’s Nick Torres missed a 42-yard field goal attempt late in the first quarter, and on a 27-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, the snap went over the holder’s head.

Edison wasn’t the only team with kicking issues. Michael Loftus of Servite missed a 34-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter.

- Martin Henderson