Chargers want redemption

What could overshadow winning a share of a fourth straight Sunset League title, finishing atop one of the most competitive prep football leagues in Southern California?

Try having to share it with four other teams, a scenario Edison Coach Dave White last November called “worse than kissing your sister.” Then, to add insult to injury, his Chargers failed to secure a CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoff spot after losing a drawing between the five teams tied at 3-2 in league.

Chip, meet shoulder.

“It didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” said returning senior quarterback Matt Viles, who last year passed for 2,009 yards and 19 touchdowns. “It just gives us motivation for this year. We’ve got a lot of seniors playing and we all experienced how it felt last year. We don’t want it to happen again, so we came out and worked hard in the off-season and hopefully that transfers to the season.”

What Edison does have is a senior-laden core that can get it done. On offense, Viles (6-foot-3, 192 pounds) is backed up by senior Stephen Andrew (6-3, 200). They’re joined by running backs Wade Houston (senior, 6-1, 180) and Davion Orphey (junior, 6-1, 185), each of whom rushed for over 500 yards last year.

Houston will also spend some time at receiver, along with returning first-team all-league selection Jeff Trojan (6-3, 187), plus fellow seniors Mike Rivera (5-8, 160) and Dylan Leener (6-3, 200). Leener can also play tight end, as will Jordan Zumwalt (6-4, 218), the Stanford-bound inside linebacker.

Edison won two passing league tournaments this summer.

“We have a lot of options,” White said. “We have some depth, which helps, and a lot of those guys play defense too. We can give them some breaks on offense.”

The offensive line is young, with Oregon State commit Roman Sapolu (6-2, 255), who moves from right tackle to center, as the only returning starter. But he’s joined by other seniors in left tackle Kyle Finney (6-2, 225), left guard Sam Saultz (6-4, 274), right guard Calvin Hollingsworth (6-0, 270) and right tackle Luke Gane (6-2, 230). White said the team has more size on the line than in the past, though not as much experience.

“Pretty much five guys at different spots, so it’ll take some time, but they’re working hard and they’ve improved tremendously in the last three months,” White said.

A new defensive line consists of Gane and junior Charles Burks (6-0, 220), with fellow juniors Michael Douthwaite (6-1, 200) and Jesse Niutapuai (5-11, 225) to see time. Inside will be Sapolu, seniors Christian Magnusen (6-0, 245) and Kris Bonham (6-1, 237) and junior Josh Frost (5-11, 275).

Zumwalt — last year’s Sunset League co-Defensive Player of the Year — is middle linebacker, with seniors Steve Malone (5-10, 202) and Shaun McLaughlin (6-0, 185) on the outside. Orphey and senior Luke Eddy (5-10, 160) are projected cornerbacks with Houston and Trojan at safety, and Rivera and senior Tyler Troya (5-10, 160) also in the mix.

Senior Markus Trujillo will handle kicking and punting duties for the deep Chargers.

“There’s more competition,” Viles said. “No one’s spot is for sure, so you’ve got to come out each day and try to keep getting better at your position. It makes the team better as well.”

The schedule is difficult, which is no surprise for Edison. Their last two games before Sunset League play starts are against traditional Orange County powerhouses Servite and Mater Dei.

The goals also remain the same as ever. The Chargers also want to extend to a four-game winning streak against rival Fountain Valley in the “Battle for the Bell.” The teams will play Nov. 6 at Orange Coast College.

“We’re excited,” White sad. “We’re hungry.”

The Chargers

League: Sunset

CIF Division: Pac-5

Coach: Dave White (24th year)

2008 record: 7-3, 3-2 in league

Returning starters: seven on offense, six on defense

Returning lettermen: 48

Returning with honors: WR Jeff Trojan; LB Jordan Zumwalt; WR Mike Rivera; OL Roman Sapolu; RB Wade Houston; RB Davion Orphey.

SCHEDULE

September

4 Artesia, 7 p.m.

10 Long Beach Wilson, 7 p.m.

17 at Dana Hills, 7 p.m.

25 Servite, 7 p.m.

October

1 at Mater Dei, 7 p.m.

16 at Esperanza, 7 p.m.*

23 at Newport Harbor, 7 p.m.*

30 Los Alamitos, 7 p.m.*

November

6 Fountain Valley, 7 p.m.*

13 at Marina, 7 p.m.*

*denotes league game