SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION I : Edison’s Bid for Upset Falls Short

A tipped pass, a fake punt and a roughing-the-kicker penalty doomed Edison’s hopes for an upset against Loyola Friday night in the second round of the Southern Section Division I football playoffs.

Loyola’s Justin Rodriguez tipped and intercepted the pass with 1 minute 23 seconds remaining to preserve the Cubs’ 20-13 victory over Edison at Orange Coast College.

Loyola’s victory set up a rematch between the Cubs (9-2) and Mater Dei in the semifinals next Saturday night. Loyola defeated Mater Dei, 28-20, in an Angelus League game four weeks ago.

“It’s going to be a tough assignment to beat Mater Dei twice in one season,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said. “They’re a great team, and (Monarch quarterback) Billy Blanton is one of the best I’ve seen.”

Rodriguez, a junior defensive back, tipped John Khamis’ pass at the Loyola 40, caught it and returned it to the Edison 40, and the third-seeded, defending champion Cubs ran out the clock.

“It was a tough way to end it,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “We could have won this game.”

Loyola running back Matt Vanis scored two touchdowns, including the winning score on a 14-yard run with 6:30 left. His touchdown came after Edison was called for roughing the kicker on John Stonehouse’s missed 49-yard field-goal attempt.

“It was a shaky call,” White said. “But I’ll be honest, I’ll have to go with it.”

The unseeded Chargers (7-5) also got burned by a fake punt with 1:37 left in the second quarter. On a fourth-and-nine play from the Edison 40, Loyola’s Chris Woolley took a short snap and raced for a touchdown as the Cubs tied it, 13-13, at halftime.

“The fake punt just killed us,” White said.

Grady said it was Loyola’s first of the season.

“If we ever were going to use it,” Grady said, “that was the time.”

Loyola’s Michael Brown rushed for 92 yards in 14 carries, and Vanis rushed for 53 yards in 12 carries. Vanis also scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Clelio Boccato.

Loyola held Edison to 87 yards total offense in the second half. Edison’s Travis Balding rushed for 107 yards but had only 28 in the second half.

“Our defense did a great job tonight,” Grady said. “We’ve come a long way since losing to Mission Viejo in our opener.”

Edison scored on its opening possession, capping a seven-play, 64-yard drive with a 32-yard touchdown run by Balding. Tim Shaw’s extra-point kick sailed wide right, and Edison led, 6-0.

Vanis’ touchdown catch tied it, 6-6, with 9:33 left in the second quarter, but Stonehouse’s extra-point kick was blocked by Edison’s Mark Lamson.

Vanis bobbled a punt with 6:34 left in the second quarter, and that set up Edison’s second touchdown. Edison’s Paul Chalabian recovered the fumble at the Loyola 18, and three plays later, Khamis scored on a five-yard run. Shaw added the extra-point to give the Chargers a 13-6 lead.

Woolley’s touchdown tied it, 13-13, and Vanis’ second touchdown gave the Cubs the lead for good.