Graham Helps Edison Top Fountain Valley

Running back Michael Graham has locked onto Edison tradition in a hurry. Barely two weeks after he left Mater Dei, Charger lore has taken hold.

Graham, a sophomore, certainly knew the significance of Friday’s 27-14 victory over Fountain Valley--a game that was followed by a melee in the end zone, involving players and coaches. The fights were broken up, but the talking went on.

“We walked the walk,” said Graham, who rushed for 189 yards and scored two touchdowns. “Last year, some Fountain Valley guys said that Edison was all talk. Well, Edison did the walk tonight.”

Never mind that Graham was studying up on Mater Dei tradition this time last year. He’s in tune to this.

Friday was more than just another Sunset League victory for the Chargers. The 8,000 fans at Orange Coast College knew that and Graham was on top of it.

“We got the bell, we got the bell,” he shouted, referring to the victory bell, which goes to the winner of the game.

The bell was the problem at the end. There were plenty of verbal exchanges during the game and those feelings escalated when Edison players rushed to the end zone to claim the victory bell.

Players from both teams met in the end zone and many squared off. Even some assistant coaches had to be separated. It took nearly five minutes before order was restored.

“It wasn’t a great way to end a great game,” Edison Coach Dave White said.

Great, from Edison’s point of view, because of Graham, who jump-started the Charger offense in the second half.

He has 354 yards in two games with Edison.

Fountain Valley (6-2, 3-2) had held Graham to only 30 yards rushing early in the third quarter, when he burst over right tackle for a 57-yard gain. It led to a touchdown run by Chris Young that cut Fountain Valley’s lead to 14-13.

Graham carried the offense from then on. He gained 159 yards in the second half and scored on a nine-yard run to give Edison the lead. Graham began celebrating the touchdown on five-yard line, then bowed to quarterback Todd Belitz in the end zone.

The rest of the team gained 74 yards.

“This wasn’t all Michael Graham,” White said. “This was a team victory.”

It was on defense, as the Chargers (6-2, 4-1) shutdown the Barons. Quarterback Scott Bertoni completed eight of his first 11 passes, but finished 14 of 34 for 153 yards.

“We needed to attack him,” linebacker Andy Robertson said.

Edison had three sacks, two by Belitz.

“We just played harder,” White said.

Graham thought so, harder than even his former team, so he claimed.

“This is the best offensive line I’ve ever had,” Graham said. “This was Edison football.”

Something Graham is now well schooled on.