Orange’s Quarterback Hurt During Edison’s Victory

A scary situation will apparently be OK for Orange quarterback James Starr, but his on-field collapse was still the flash point in Edison’s 29-0 nonleague victory Friday over the Panthers at Orange Coast College.

Starr was sacked for a seven-yard loss by Ryan Tritz with 2 minutes 58 seconds left in the first half. After getting up, Starr went to his team’s huddle, where he fell face forward and struggled to breathe.

Starr’s injury delayed the game 26 minutes, and Orange’s 7-0 deficit at the time ballooned in a hurry once play resumed.

Orange trainer Alicia Adams said Starr, who was taken to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, was sore in the chest area but was “back to his normal self” later in the evening. He was treated and released before midnight.

Orange was hanging tough before Starr’s injury. Defensive back Derald Deason returned the first of his two interceptions 49 yards, and a personal foul moved it to the 11, but Steve Gonzales missed a 29-yard field-goal attempt.

Edison (3-1) responded, driving 80 yards in 13 plays. It ended on a one-yard touchdown run by Josh Kogler (16 carries, 97 yards), who had two.

The next possession finished the Panthers. After driving from their 13 to the 46, Starr was hit from behind and knocked out of the game.

The offense sputtered the rest of the night, netting only five yards after Starr’s exit.

Edison wasted no time. The Chargers went deep immediately for a 42-yard gain, and Kogler ended the seven-play, 80-yard, 68-second drive with an 11-yard scoring run.

“They went to the jugular vein immediately,” said Orange Coach Dick Hill, whose team dropped to 1-3. “They went hard right at us before we ever recuperated. [Starr’s injury] was a hard shock to us.”

Orange fumbled on three of its next four possessions; one led to a safety that made it 22-0. It was preceded by a 29-yard scoring pass from Jeff Grady (11 of 24, 115 yards) to Brandon Boerner , capping a 61-yard drive.

Edison’s second team ended the scoring. After Alex Romero’s 73-yard run, he scored from one yard.

Edison outgained Orange, 383-90. When Starr went down, Edison’s advantage was 106-85.

Starr had completed three of six passes for 64 yards for the bulk of the Panthers’ offense.

“Our defense played great,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “We took a step forward, but we’re still not where we need to be to compete in the Sunset League. We’re a good team, but we definitely have to get better.”