Edison Thrives on Mistakes to Beat Long Beach Jordan

The days when Edison High School had an enrollment of 4,000 students and suited up 80 players for a game may be over, but the Chargers showed in their season opener Thursday night that they’re still an efficient and winning football program.

Although Edison’s defense, the trademark of so many league championship teams in the 1970s and ‘80s, is smaller in size and numbers, the Chargers continue to thrive on opponents’ mistakes.

Two interceptions and a fumble recovery were enough to give Edison a 19-10 nonleague victory over Long Beach Jordan in front of 1,050 on Huntington Beach High’s Sheue Field.

Jordan’s key turnover came on the second-half kickoff as Dexter Davis fumbled on his own 32-yard line with his team trailing, 12-3. Edison’s Marcos Emhoff recovered and the Chargers scored five plays later when running back Chet Van Horn dived into the end zone from one yard out.

Edison’s defense limited Jordan to 95 yards rushing and 37 yards passing. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ offense was just good enough to win. Quarterback Geoff Bell, replacing graduated Jon Khamis, completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Bell completed all of his passes in the first half and had scoring passes of 44 yards to wide receiver Adam Cancelleri and 17 yards to tight end Steve Blanchard. Afterward, Edison Coach Dave White noted that his team tired in the second half with good reason.

“We had five guys going both ways tonight,” White said. “It’s not like the old days when Edison had 4,000 students and we platooned at every position. We made a lot of mistakes, but I was happy with our effort. It was a good start.”

Jordan, coming off a 3-6 season, was playing for the first time in three years without standout running back Johnny Nansen, who is now at Washington State. Greg Sii found replacing Nansen difficult, gaining only 21 yards in 14 carries.

Jordan scored its only touchdown in the third quarter when quarterback Joe Rodriguez ran four yards on a keeper.

Cancelleri was clearly the standout for Edison. He caught three passes for 81 yards, carried four times for 18 yards and had 10 unassisted tackles at cornerback.