Edison Survives Air Raid : Angelovic Outduels Rosenkranz in Game of Passes, 14-13

Edison High School quarterback Mike Angelovic flipped the ball high into the air on the final play of the game, signaling the start of a celebration as the Chargers defeated Servite, 14-13, on Friday night in front of 7,500 fans at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Angelovic had reason celebrate after completing 20 of 28 passes for 249 yards to overshadow Servite quarterback Tim Rosenkranz in an exciting passing game. Rosenkranz was 19 of 33 for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns.

But in a game of offensive stars, it was a sack by Edison nose guard Jim Collins near the end that preserved the Charger victory and sent Edison (10-2) into next week’s Big Five Conference semifinal game against Sunset League rival Westminster. Servite ended the season at 9-3.

Servite had driven to Edison’s 30 with four minutes left when Collins burst through the Servite line to sack Rosenkranz for a seven-yard loss.

The play was pivotal in that it pushed the Friars out of the range of sophomore placekicker Pat Blottiaux, who had kicked field goals of 52, 48 and 47 yards the previous week.

Still, Blottiaux attempted a 54-yard field goal, but it was five yards short. Edison subsequently ran out the clock.

“I knew they would get a shot, but with wet ground and a soccer-style kicker, I wasn’t sure they would make it,” said Bill Workman, Edison coach. “A wet ground is death for a soccer-style kicker.”

Blottiaux had earlier missed 53- and 43-yard attempts. Each kick was long enough, but both were wide to the left. Leo Hand, Servite coach, said the best team won.

“They deserved to win,” he said. “They were a better team. We had breakdowns all year long . . . we’ve been an undisciplined team all year long.

“I feel sorry for the seniors. This was the last shot at the championship and they’ve worked so hard to get here.”

One Servite player who will get another chance at a title is junior Nick-John Haiduc, who established a school, single-game receiving record with 12 receptions for 144 yards, breaking the old mark of 11 set by Geoff DeLapp in 1965.

Haiduc’s three-yard catch for a touchdown with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter had moved Servite to within one point, but the Friars failed on the conversion kick and the mistake proved costly.

Afterward, Workman reflected upon the progress his team has made since a season-opening, 14-0 loss to El Modena.

“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “If you remember what we looked like in our first game and then saw us tonight, you would know how happy we are with this team. They’re a great group of players who really enjoy playing football.

“We felt we had an advantage in this game with our receivers against their defensive backs. We’re a little faster and I think it showed.”

Wide receiver Rick Justice was the swiftest of the Charger receivers, catching six passes for 51 yards. Junior Dan Hughes, who replaced Ken Griggs when Griggs suffered back injury, caught three passes for 42 yards.

“This was Dan Hughes’ first varsity football game and he came through when we needed him,” Workman said. “We moved the ball the entire game, but we lost two fumbles that hurt.”

The teams played remarkably good football in the first half considering the playing conditions. The field, which was soggy and slippery following an afternoon rain, was difficult to navigate.

Servite took advantage of the only turnover of the first half to score its first touchdown. Linebacker Jason Rolish set up the score by recovering Edison tailback Kaleaph Carter’s fumble at the Charger 37-yard line in the second quarter.

Rosenkranz threw two consecutive passes to Haiduc to move the Friars to the 4, and then teamed with Haiduc on three-yard scoring play with 3:23 left to play in the half for a 7-0 lead.

Edison then drove 63 yards to score in less than two minutes to tie the game. Angelovic completed six straight passes to move the Chargers downfield, and Carter capped the drive with a one-yard dive over the Servite defensive line for the score.

Servite had two opportunities to score in the first half, but each time Blottiaux missed field goal attempts. Blottiaux was wide to the left on a 53-yard attempt in the first quarter and was wide to the left again with nine seconds left in half on a 43-yard attempt.

Both quarterbacks were impressive in the first half. Rosenkranz completed 9 of 14 pass attempts for 101 yards and a touchdown. Angelovic completed 12 of 17 pass attempts for 123 yards and at one point completed eight consecutive passes.