PREP EXTRA / FRIDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Fast Start Nets Victory, Playoffs for Edison

At the very least, Edison proved Thursday night it’s the third-best team in the Sunset League.

The Chargers (8-2, 3-2) earned the final automatic playoff qualifying berth by virtue of a 26-16 victory over Marina at Huntington Beach High School in front of a homecoming crowd of 2,000.

“We’re 8-2 and the two games we lost were Los Al and Esperanza,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “Somebody’s going to have to be tough to beat us in the playoffs.”

Quarterback Pat Markovsky led the Charger attack, completing 17 of 29 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

The Chargers took an early lead, as Brad Lisotto ran in from two yards with 4 minutes 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter. But the Vikings came back on their next possession with a 20-yard field goal from Peter Mignosa.

Markovsky connected with Mike Ogas for a 38-yard touchdown pass and Lisotto added another two-yard run to put Edison ahead, 20-3.

Marina (6-4, 1-4) battled back, as Viking Steve Cooper recovered a shanked punt at the Edison three-yard line and ran it into the end zone to cut the Charger lead to 20-10 at halftime.

Both teams scored in the second half, but Marina could not draw closer as Edison shut down the Viking running attack in the second half.

The Chargers compiled 339 yards in total offense, besting the 291-yard effort from Marina.

Mike Williams rushed for 130 yards in 19 carries to lead Marina.