Edison Outlasts Westminster, 41-26, to Close In on League Leaders

What began as an Edison rout turned into a respectable and entertaining game, before the Chargers pulled away for a 41-26 victory over Westminster in a Sunset League game Friday night.

Edison (4-3, 2-1) pulled within a half-game of first-place Huntington Beach and Marina (both 3-1). Quarterback John Khamis, tailback Travis Balding and linebacker Mark Lamson paced the Chargers.

Khamis completed seven of 15 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown and ran for two more, including a 47-yarder. Balding carried 22 times for 85 yards and scored on a two-yard run in the first period that gave Edison a 14-0 lead.

Lamson pressured Westminster quarterback Johnny Mahurien several times and sacked him on consecutive plays late in the game, ending what little hope the Lions (2-5, 1-3) had left.

“Johnny Khamis played a big game,” Edison Coach Dave White said.

Khamis, who rushed for 79 yards in 12 carries, was masterful in dissecting the Westminster defense. He opened the scoring with an 11-yard run with 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter and increased the Charger lead to 27-0 at the half with a 55-yard touchdown pass to tailback Lucas Bader and on his 47-yard run.

Westminster, however, regrouped at the half. The Lions got on the board on their first possession of the third quarter on a 42-yard run by tailback Christian Moore in which he bounced off an Edison lineman at the line of scrimmage and scampered along the right sideline for the score.

After defensive back Hung Nguy recovered an Edison fumble that gave Westminster the ball at the Chargers’ 19-yard line, Mahurien combined with wide receiver Robert Besanson on a five-yard play to close the deficit to 27-13 with 7:27 left in the third quarter.

Mahurien then connected with wide receiver Brian Roberts on a 10-yard pass play to pull Westminster within seven, 27-20, early in the fourth quarter.

But Edison wouldn’t break. The Chargers padded their lead with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Khamis to fullback Ryan Belitz and Belitz scored again moments later after intercepting a Mahurien pass and returning it 21 yards.

Moore, who gained 138 yards in 19 carries for Westminster, finished the scoring with a nine-yard run with 3:12 to play.

Despite a harassing Edison defense, Mahurien threw for 163 yards after completing only two of 11 passes in the first half.

“We let down a little bit and they picked up a little bit (after the half),” White said. “The momentum definitely changed, but then we responded.”