SUNSET LEAGUE : Edison Still Holding Huntington Beach at Bay With 16-10 Win

Edison High School continued its domination of the Huntington Beach football team Thursday night, but just barely.

Edison’s Josh Gingrich threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ryan Blanchard with 8 minutes 31 seconds left to play and the Chargers held on for a 16-10 victory in a Sunset League game at LeBard Stadium.

It was the 14th time in the past 15 years Edison has beaten Huntington Beach.

More importantly, it gave the Chargers, ranked sixth in Orange County, an early lead in the league race. The Chargers improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play while Huntington Beach, ranked fifth in the county, dropped to 3-1 and 0-1.

Gingrich completed four of five passes for 27 yards on the winning drive. He completed 17 of 35 passes overall for 157 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

“Josh got hot a little bit in the fourth quarter when we needed him to,” Edison Coach Dave White said.

Huntington Beach got the ball back three times in the final eight minutes, but failed to score.

Edison linebacker Mike Hawks ended the final threat with 52 seconds left when he intercepted a pass by Huntington Beach’s Jack Friend at the Edison 31-yard line.

“We didn’t throw the ball well at all,” Huntington Beach Coach George Pascoe said. “Our penalties (eight for 100 yards) were horrible.”

Edison kept the pressure on Friend the entire game, sacking him three times for minus-26 yards. Friend completed three of 14 passes for 19 yards and three interceptions.

Huntington Beach tailback Joe Contreras rushed for 109 yards in 14 carries, but had only two carries for 21 yards in the second half.

“Contreras is really quick,” White said. “He bounced a couple (of runs) on us.”

Contreras kept the Oilers moving in the first half as the teams battled to a 10-10 halftime tie.

Edison’s first-half scoring came on a safety and a nine-yard touchdown pass from Gingrich to Travis Balding. Gingrich then threw a two-point conversion pass to Rod Lippincott.

Huntington Beach’s first-half scoring came on a 24-yard field goal by Alex Acocello and a four-yard run by Adam Bowermaster, who also intercepted two passes.

Huntington Beach had a chance to break the tie with 35 seconds left in the third quarter, but Acocello’s 35-yard field-goal attempt sailed just outside the right upright.

“Missing that field goal by a foot hurt us,” Pascoe said. “I guess we’re the hunter and not the huntee (in the league race). We’re going to have to go after Edison.”