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HUNTINGTON BEACH — Edison’s football team found itself in familiar territory Thursday as it quickly faced adversity against Newport Harbor, falling behind by two touchdowns against a sizzling quarterback.
But the Chargers responded with the perseverance they’ve shown again this season.
Edison endured all the way to the final play, blocking a 32-yard field goal attempt by Newport Harbor as time expired to seal a dramatic 31-28 victory in the Sunset League at Huntington Beach High.
Junior safety Jake Minter leaped to deflect the low kick, igniting a wild celebration by Edison (5-3, 3-0), which rallied from a 14-0 deficit behind freshman quarterback Sam Thomson and junior running back Julius Gillick.
“It’s incredible,” Edison senior cornerback Jared Schnoor said of the victory. “The amount of energy and courage it took to finish that game out is crazy. Both teams played really well.”
Edison, ranked 12th in Orange County, navigated playing four of its first five games on the road after its season-opening trip to Hawaii was canceled due to the Maui fires. Against No. 13 Newport Harbor (3-5, 1-2), the challenge was slowing down quarterback Jaden O’Neal and wide receivers Jordan Anderson — an Oregon commit — and Josiah Lamarque.
Edison block for the win … great game! @EdisonChargerFB @EdisonSportsNet pic.twitter.com/YJfAbAx0N1
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) October 13, 2023
O’Neal passed for 335 yards and two scores while Anderson finished with 16 catches for 167 yards and a TD. Lamarque added 12 catches for 115 yards.
Edison took a 31-28 lead on a 22-yard field goal by junior Nico Bammer with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Backup quarterback Bode Stefano then led Sailors down the field, converting a fourth-down pass in taking his team to the Edison 10 with 15 seconds left. The junior threw two passes toward the end zone for the victory before Newport Harbor tried to send the game into overtime with the field goal.
Newport Harbor was aiming for its first victory against Edison since 1979.
“I think in that final drive, a lot of our kids had a lot of confidence that we were going to punch it in,” Sailors coach Peter Lofthouse said. “Credit to Edison’s defense and special teams.”
O’Neal completed his first 12 passes in leading a sizzling start for Newport Harbor.
The sophomore opened the game by guiding a 67-yard scoring drive capped by a 3-yard TD pass to Cade Fegel.
O’Neal led another long scoring drive on Newport Harbor’s next possession, which he punctuated w/ a 1-yard TD run.
But Edison recovered to tie the score at 14-14 at halftime as Schnoor scored on a 4-yard run and Thomson tossed his first of two touchdowns to senior wide out Mason York.
In the second half, the teams were tied at 21-21 in the third, which saw O’Neal leave late in period with an injury.
“He says he’ll be fine for next week,” Lofthouse said of O’Neal, who limped after a 16-yard run. “We’re going evaluate that.”
Early in the fourth, Stefano gave Newport Harbor a 28-21 lead by firing a 19-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Sammy Stremick, a transfer from Mater Dei who was recently declared eligible.
Edison responded on the ensuing possession as Thomson threw a 25-yard TD to York to knot the score at 28-28 with 7:23 left.
Thomson spent most of the season with the freshmen team but played for injured starter Save Niumata, who warmed up but didn’t play.
Edison also played without starting offensive lineman Tae Falelaulii (leg).
“We found a way. That was a tough battle,” Edison coach Jeff Grady said. “I think it says a lot about our ability to persevere when things aren’t going your way.”
“That’s sports,” the coach added. “That’s why it’s such a great metaphor for life. You just got to deal with what’s thrown at you.”
Gillick rushed for 217 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown to give Edison its first lead early in the second half. The left-handed Thomson completed 18 of 23 passes for 212 yards.
O’Neal completed 33 of 41 passes and had one interception, which was grabbed by Schnoor.
Next week, Edison plays rival Fountain Valley in the teams’ Bell Game at Orange Coast College on Oct. 20. The Chargers own an 18-game winning streak in the series.
Edison closes the Sunset League against Los Alamitos at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach on Oct. 27.
Newport Harbor next week plays host to rival Corona del Mar on Oct. 20 in the teams’ Battle of the Bay game. Corona del Mar has won 10 straight in the series.