Graham Leads Way for Edison

Michael Graham’s touchdown dance still needs a little more work, but then Edison’s gifted running back figures to get plenty of chances to perfect his end-zone routine in the next couple of years.

Graham reached the end zone four times in Edison’s 40-20 victory over Canyon Country Canyon on Friday night in the opening round of the Southern Section Division II playoffs in Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

He finished with 210 yards in 21 carries, scoring on runs of 14, 9, 73 and 21 yards as Edison (9-2) advanced to the second round against top-ranked Los Alamitos (11-0). It marked the fifth time the sophomore back has gained 100 or more yards in six games since transferring from Mater Dei.

Graham’s 73-yard run with 8:29 remaining in the fourth quarter ended Canyon’s comeback bid and shifted the momentum back in Edison’s favor. Edison led 28-7 at halftime but nearly self-destructed in the second half with critical turnovers.

Canyon cut the deficit to eight points with nine minutes remaining but Graham responded with two touchdown runs to clinch the victory. He received a misconduct penalty after each score and Edison failed on successive conversion kicks following the 15-yard penalties.

“I was just having some fun,” Graham said. “When we watched the game films earlier this week, I knew our line would knock them off the ball and that I’d get some big holes. It’s all up to my line.”

Canyon suffered a bad break early in the second quarter when its top rusher, Ed Williams, re-injured an ankle and had to leave the game. The Cowboys’ misfortune continued later in the quarter when Edison wide receiver Tony Borrelli stole a sure-look interception out of a defender’s hands and turned it into a a 50-yard touchdown with 3:00 left to push Edison ahead, 28-7.