Orange County High School Football PREP EXTRA : This Time, It’s Edison’s Turn to Defeat Capistrano Valley

Edison’s time had come. Dave White, on the verge of hyperventilating, waded through his team, slapping every player he could reach.

Yes, it’s only the second week of the season. But the Chargers’ 21-17 victory over Capistrano Valley at Orange Coast College Friday was greeted with a collective sigh of relief. It took a 70-yard run by Bradley Lisotto with a minute left, but Edison had finally beaten the Cougars.

For five years, White had watched in agony as his team went down in flames against Capistrano Valley. Sometimes it was a blow out, sometimes a nail-biter. This time it didn’t happen.

“We’ve lost to them so many times and in so many ways,” White said. “I have a lot of respect for their program. But it was time for us to beat them.”

They almost didn’t.

That old Cougar magic was on again, like last season when they drove 80 yards in the final minute for a 17-13 victory.

This time the Cougars needed to go only 31 yards to take the lead. Charlie Landrigan’s three-yard run with 1 minute 53 seconds left put them up and the Chargers down.

Despite outgaining, outplaying and outhitting the Cougars, Edison trailed, 17-14.

Things looked worse moments later when the Chargers faced a third and 10. But Lisotto broke up the middle on a draw, cut outside, and outran Jeffrey Brion for a touchdown.

“I saw a little opening and went for it,” Lisotto said. “I just headed for the sidelines and ran, ran, ran.”

Said White: We could have quit. We didn’t.”

Edison piled up yards and piled up the Cougars’ offense.

Quarterback Pat Markovsky completed 15 of 21 passes for 162 yards. The Chargers also gained 216 yards rushing, 151 by Lisotto.

But Lisotto and running back Alex Forero each fumbled. Both killed drives deep in Capistrano Valley territory. Kevin Bever also missed two 42-yard field goals.

So Capistrano Valley, which had only 124 total yards all night, trailed only, 7-3, at halftime.

“We shot ourselves and shot ourselves,” White said. “But our defense was unbelievable.”

Especially to those who saw it last week. The Chargers watched, quite literally, as Corona del Mar’s Brian Hogan gained 272 yards. Edison held on for a 35-28 victory, but it didn’t inspire confidence.

But the Chargers shut down Capistrano’s all-sophomore backfield, limiting them to 41 yards rushing. They confused sophomore quarterback Tim Hirchag with a variety of defensive fronts and blitzes. Edison also moved free safety Bryan Lachapelle to linebacker, where he made one big play after another. In fact, the Cougars’ only offense of note was a 77-yard touchdown pass from Hirchag to Todd Miller.