Edison Lights It Up Again in Victory Over Long Beach Wilson

It’s been at least five years since the folks at Edison High have been this excited about their football team, and Thursday night at Huntington Beach High, the Chargers gave those folks yet another reason to cheer.

The swift, efficient, high-powered Edison offense took advantage of six turnovers and struck for three touchdowns in the second quarter of a 35-12 nonleague victory over Long Beach Wilson.

Slick, speedy running back Darryl Poston provided most of the power with 196 yards and four touchdowns in 32 carries.

The 5-foot-10 junior slithered through seemingly unopen holes and burst open for touchdown runs of 21, one, eight and three yards.

“Our offense is electrifying,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “We can pass and run when we need to.”

The Chargers, who are averaging more than 42 points a game, improved to 4-0 for only the second time since 1994 and just the third time since White took over as coach in 1986. The victory Thursday avenged a 64-34 drubbing by Wilson (1-3) last year.

“This is a big win for us,” White said. “Last year we were 3-0 and lost to these guys and it turned our season the wrong way. This is good for our psyche.”

At first, it looked like a repeat of last year, as Wilson used a distinct speed advantage to reel off big plays early in the game.

Wilson held Edison to three and out on its first possession, then went 58 yards in two running plays to take a 6-0 lead. Three plays later, Edison’s Richard Schwartz then threw an interception.

But the Edison defense took over. The Chargers forced two punts and three turnovers in the first half and allowed only 45 more yards before halftime. The Bruins finished with 209 yards, 70 in the second half.

The Edison offense took advantage of the turnovers, putting together second-quarter scoring drives of 30 yards in three plays, 33 yards in five plays and 42 yards in four plays. The total time of possession for Edison in the second-quarter scoring barrage was 3:09.

“Everyone was saying we were the same as last year,” Poston said. “At the beginning of the season we had doubts, but you can say that Edison is back.”