Quatman’s Late Return Keys Edison

Edison’s Kyle Quatman dropped a kickoff, then picked it up and raced 89 yards for a touchdown that gave the Chargers an 18-12 victory over Costa Mesa in a nonleague football game Friday at Huntington Beach High.

The touchdown came right after Costa Mesa had put together an impressive 12-play drive that was ended when Steve Herzog fought his way in from the one-yard line to tie they game, 12-12, with 2 minutes 2 seconds left.

Herzog rushed for 103 yards in 24 carries and teammate Vince Hamade added 101 yards in 11 tries.

But for Costa Mesa Coach Jerry Howell, the most destructive play wasn’t Quatman’s kickoff return. What bothered him most was an official’s call.

Costa Mesa (1-2) led, 6-0, at the half and the teams were tied, 6-6, after three quarters. Edison was driving early in the fourth when quarterback Jeff Grady was sacked by Donny Causey for a nine-yard loss back to the Costa Mesa 39.

After the play, Causey pointed to the Costa Mesa stands and was called for taunting, a 15-yard penalty. Instead of fourth and 17, it was fourth and two and Edison got the first down on a two-yard run by Josh Kogler, who had 113 yards and a touchdown in 19 carries.

“I can’t believe that call,” said Howell, “and I want this in the papers. That a referee would make that kind of a call on a sack is unbelievable. [Him pointing to the crowd] didn’t change the game at all . . . That ref’s been watching TV too much.”

Edison (2-1) went ahead, 12-6, when Grady threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Aaron Maas with 6:57 left in the game.

The loss ended a trying week for Costa Mesa that started when Coronado quarterback Adrian Taufaasau died Monday as a result of injuries he suffered in a Sept. 20 game with the Mustangs.

“Our kids didn’t do anything wrong,” Howell said. “We had no mental problems with that at all.”