Esperanza Moves Into First With Victory Over Edison

For the second straight week, Esperanza was pushed to the edge of defeat by an inspired opponent. And for the second straight week, the Aztecs refused to go over the edge.

Senior all-purpose back Jamie Smith hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Grant Wagner with about a minute to play, which enabled No. 10 Esperanza to edge fourth-ranked and previously unbeaten Edison, 27-26, in a Sunset League game Thursday at Valencia High.

Smith, who rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown as well as catching two passes for 60 yards, was bustling down the left sideline on a corner route, running step for step with defensive back Ryan Walters. But as Wagner lofted the pass, Walters slipped and Smith caught the ball at the five and scored.

“I knew he was running with me all the way,” Smith said. “I didn’t see him slip because I was watching for the ball. It went up, and God put it in my hands.”

“Around here we call him Touchdown Jamie,” Coach Gary Meek said. “If he’s around the end zone he knows how to get in.”

It was the 200th victory for Meek (against 78 losses and a tie). More importantly, it left Esperanza (5-2, 2-0) the only unbeaten team in the Sunset League and put them on course for a third straight league championship.

It was a difficult defeat for Edison (5-1-1, 1-1), which faces Los Alamitos and Fountain Valley in consecutive weeks. Edison has lost four straight to Esperanza, and all four deciding scores have come in the fourth quarter.

“We knew the winner of this game would have a leg up in league,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “Our kids played a great game. It won’t be hard to get them back up for Los Alamitos. But we knew this was a game we needed to win.”

The Chargers, who got a big night from quarterback Jeff Grady (207 yards, two touchdowns), receiver Jeff Hall (nine catches for 157 yards) and running back Darin Pope (120 yards), looked in good shape to win after a breaking a 21-21 tie with a minute gone in the fourth quarter.

Edison got a safety when Esperanza punter Manuel Adams--standing five yards deep in his end zone--had the ball hiked over his head and past the end line. Adams kicked the ball in frustration and drew a 10-yard penalty, meaning he had to kick off from his 10 instead of the 20.

Edison ran the kick back to the Aztec 44, moved the ball 40 yards, and settled on a 20-yard field goal by David Yonts.

But even though the Chargers had the ball one more time, they could not put the Aztecs away. Esperanza got the ball at its 10-yard line with 3:48 left in the game, and was able to drive the 90 yards needed for the winning touchdown with 1 minute 13 seconds left.