Big Five Conference : Edison Takes Breather Against Alemany : Chargers’ Big Lead After Three Quarters Assures Victory, 22-7

Bill Workman, Edison High School football coach, found himself with a little breathing room Friday night in the Chargers’ first-round game against Alemany in the Southern Section Big Five Conference playoffs at Sheue Field in Huntington Beach.

The Chargers have Orange County’s most efficient passer in quarterback Mike Angelovic, two sure-handed receivers in Rick Justice and Ken Griggs and a defense that has allowed only 47 points in the past four games. Those factors, in part, helped them to a 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

With things in control, Workman took the opportunity to rest his star tailback, Kaleaph Carter, during the final period. But not before the sophomore had done his share of damage.

Carter, a 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore, rushed for 82 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Edison to a 22-7 victory in front of 3,500.

Alemany avoided the shutout when quarterback Sean Casey scored from one yard out in the fourth period, but the Indians didn’t pose a serious threat in the second half.

That was because Carter carried the ball 10 times for 47 yards on an Edison drive that ended with his 1-yard touchdown run and consumed nearly seven minutes of the third period.

The Chargers also used their ball-control offense to knock more than five minutes off the fourth quarter, although the drive did not result in a touchdown.

Angelovic completed 11 of 17 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. Justice caught five of those passes for 111 yards. Casey completed 15 of 27 passes for 113 yards.

Carter had missed some practice time this week with a bruised elbow and wrist, but he’ll be able to play in Edison’s second-round game against Servite.

He looked fine in the first half, as Edison built a 15-0 lead.

The Chargers (9-2) turned the ball over twice during a scoreless first period but took advantage of an Alemany turnover and a short punt to put together two short touchdown drives in the second quarter.

Casey went back to pass on the first play of the second period and had good protection but was intercepted by Edison linebacker Bernie Colacchio. Colacchio, who was all alone at the Alemany 35-yard line, returned the interception to the 25.

Angelovic tossed a shovel pass to Carter for 10 yards, and Carter ran nine yards to the Indian 6. Three plays later, Angelovic rolled right and found Griggs in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown pass. Carter went over the top of a pile at the goal-line for the two-point conversion.

The Charger defense forced a punt after three plays on Alemany’s next possession. Travis Bergeman could manage only a 25-yard kick, which Mike Henderson returned to the Indian 27-yard line.

After two sacks, on a fourth-and-16 from the 33, Angelovic lofted a spiral down the left sideline to Justice, who leaped to make the catch over Pat Aragon at the 9. Carter covered the final nine yards, the last four coming on a touchdown run that gave Edison a 14-0 lead with 3:29 left in the half. Eric Thayer’s extra point made it 15-0.

Marina 27, San Gorgonio 23--The Vikings overcame a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to gain an opening-round victory over the Spartans in front of 3,000 fans in San Bernardino.

Marina (7-3-1) rallied for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The winning touchdown came on Sean Magula’s 12-yard run with 4:50 remaining. Magula’s game-winning touchdown was set up by Rick Vanderriet’s 27-yard pass to Mike Gillies.

San Gorgonio had taken a 23-7 lead early in the third quarter and appeared to be on its way to a victory. The Spartans’ took the big lead behind the passing of quarterback Franklin Baker, who was starting his first game.

Baker threw two touchdown passes--a 10-yard strike to his brother Darrell and a 30-yard toss to Mike Eatinger on the last play of the first half. But the Vikings came back.

Vanderriet threw two touchdown passes in the second half. He connected with Brian Sterzer on 22-yard scoring play and then found Ray Goldsboro open for a 34-yard touchdown pass to cut San Gorgonio’s lead to 23-21.

Westminster 14, Riverside Poly 2--The Lions scored the biggest upset in the opening round of the playoffs, shocking the undefeated and defending Big Five Conference champion Bears at UC Riverside with a strong defensive effort.

The Lions, now 7-4, had goal-line stands at its 7 and 3 yard lines in the first half and held a 7-2 lead after one quarter of play when quarterback Steve Gulley scored on a keeper.

Westminster sealed the win in the third quarter. Gulley connected with wide receiver Robert Martinez on a 28-yard pass play that set up Jim Cover’s two-yard run. The Lions limited Poly to 175 yards in total offense and held them 21 points below its season scoring average.