LA MIRADA, Calif. - It seemed like it was all unraveling for Edison. Once in possession of a firm 34-10 third quarter lead, the Chargers suddenly saw La Mirada cut it to just a 10-point margin, as the Matadores reeled off consecutive scores in two touchdown catches by Jeremy Clark in less than 30 seconds.
“It was gut-check time there,” Edison quarterback Griffin O’Connor said. “We always talk about, ‘Fourth quarter, fourth quarter. What are we going to do in the fourth quarter?’”
What the Chargers did was respond -- shutting out the Matadores the rest of the way and putting up 10 points of their own for a 44-24 road win on Friday to claim the Southern Section Division III Championship — its sixth CIF-Southern Section title — and advance to a regional bowl next week.
“We came back with a different attitude after they scored,” O’Connor said.
For a young and undersized team, Edison did not back down from La Mirada’s threat. A key fourth-down conversion on the ensuing drive led to a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Edison’ defense stood tall against high-octane quarterback Tristan Meyer and the Matadores’ offense, making a stop on fourth-and-four in the red zone late to preserve the win.
“I knew they were going to come back, like they did,” Edison head coach Dave White said. “We hung in there. We just made some big plays.”
Aside from the blip in the third quarter, it was smooth sailing for a Chargers team that has now won nine consecutive games and has four strong postseason victories.
Running back Jack Carmichael led the way early on, slipping, sliding and spinning his way past the La Mirada defense. His first touchdown was a 21-yard scamper that put Edison on the board, and his second was a six-yard run straight ahead that opened up a 21-10 advantage.
Carmichael had seven carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone.
“We knew a lot of our offense evolves around Jack Carmichael,” said O’Connor, making quite the understatement.
Edison took a 28-10 lead into halftime after O’Connor scored on a quarterback keeper set up by a long run from Carmichael with under a minute to play. The touchdown gained some separation for the Chargers in a sluggish first half.
After both teams scored on their respective first drives — La Mirada kicked a field goal — each team punted away its next two possessions before trading touchdowns in the second quarter. But it was Edison’s two unanswered touchdowns late in the half that set the momentum firmly in its favor.
“They played their hearts out every play,” White said on his players. “We’re a little undersized in a lot of positions, but big hearts make up for it a lot of times.”
Not only does the win clinch a spot in a regional game for Edison, but it also means White’s retirement party will be delayed at least another week. The coach, who has spent 31 years at the helm of Edison, plans to retire after the season. To that end, however, his players are intent on forcing him to work a few more weeks.
“Special group of kids in the last year, that’s for sure,” White said.
Drenched in water after a water cooler shower from his players that had to feel extra cold in the frosty December night, White emphasized that he is enjoying every last moment he can muster out of this season.
“If and when we lose, I’m not going to cry because we lost,” White said. “I’m going to cry because it’s going to be over.”
