HUNTINGTON BEACH — After three consecutive losses against high-quality nonleague opponents, Edison capped the nonleague portion of its schedule with a 36-0 victory over Summit — also an excellent team — on Friday at Huntington Beach High School.
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Edison (3-3) dominated every facet of the game.
The Chargers’ special teams scored on a safety and blocked a punt, their defense held the SkyHawks to 75 yards of total offense and forced two fumbles, and their offense controlled the line of scrimmage, scoring two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.
“It feels good to get a win after a tough three-game stretch,” Edison coach Jeff Grady said. “When you start rolling and running the ball effectively, and getting stops on defense, it helps your confidence and you just go from there.”
The Chargers, who are ranked No. 18 in Orange County this week, received the opening kickoff. On their third play from scrimmage, quarterback Sam Thomson connected with Brennan Vares for a 43-yard touchdown.
The SkyHawks then fumbled on the 1-yard line on the ensuing kickoff and recovered the ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety.
Summit didn’t run an offensive play until the second quarter, and the Chargers’ special teams made another big play on that drive when Jalen Cole blocked a punt and teammate Gavin Tahmoush recovered the ball on the Summit 2.
Samuel Edmisten scored on the next play to give the Chargers a 15-0 lead after the missed extra point.
In the third quarter, Edmisten, who rushed for 65 yards on 14 carries, scored his second touchdown, this one from 16 yards, giving the Chargers a 22-0 lead.
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“It’s great to have that energy and that confidence back,” Edmisten said. “We came out and we just dominated off the bat and proved who we are as a team.”
Edison put the contest well out of reach and triggered a running clock after a 17-yard touchdown run from backup quarterback Kellen Hairston.
The SkyHawks came into the contest ranked No. 18 in the Inland area in the Press-Enterprise rankings and had allowed seven points or fewer in four games, including three shutouts.
Edison’s three losses were against teams who are a combined 17-2, and the schedule won’t get any easier when the Chargers open play in the loaded Alpha League next week against No. 4 Mission Viejo.
“Sometimes I forget how long the season is,” Thomson said. “You’re 1-3 and it feels horrible. But there is so much of the season left. We don’t duck anybody. We schedule the best opponents.”
Other Alpha League teams include No. 6 San Clemente, No. 12 Yorba Linda, No. 16 San Juan Hills and No. 20 Los Alamitos.
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