Loyola Keeps Edison at Bay, 20-13

Loyola’s Justin Rodriguez tipped and intercepted a pass with 1 minute 23 seconds remaining to preserve the Cubs’ 20-13 victory over Huntington Beach Edison in a Southern Section Division I quarterfinal Friday night at Orange Coast College.

Rodriguez, a junior defensive back, tipped John Khamis’ pass at the Loyola 40-yard line, caught it and returned it to the Edison 40.

Then, the third-seeded and defending champion Cubs ran out the clock. The victory set up a rematch between Loyola (10-2) and unseeded Santa Ana Mater Dei in the semifinals next Saturday night. Loyola defeated Mater Dei, 28-20, in an Angelus League game four weeks ago.

“It’s going to be a tough assignment to beat Mater Dei twice in one season,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said. “They’re a great team, and (Monarch quarterback) Billy Blanton is one of the best I’ve seen.”

Loyola running back Matt Vanis scored two touchdowns, including the winning score on a 14-yard run with 6:30 left. His touchdown run was set up after Edison was called for roughing the kicker on John Stonehouse’s missed 49-yard field-goal attempt.

“It was a shaky call,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “But I’ll be honest, I’ll have to go with it.”

Loyola’s Michael Brown rushed for 92 yards in 14 carries, and Vanis rushed for 53 yards in 12 carries. Vanis also scored on a 40-yard pass from Clelio Boccato.

Loyola held Edison to 87 yards total offense in the second half. Edison’s Travis Balding rushed for 107 yards but had only 28 in the second half.

“Our defense did a great job tonight,” Grady said. “We’ve come a long way since losing to Mission Viejo in our opener.”

Unseeded Edison (7-5) scored on its opening possession, capping a seven-play, 64-yard drive with a 32-yard run by Balding. Tim Shaw’s extra-point kick sailed wide right and Edison led, 6-0.

Vanis’ touchdown catch tied it, 6-6, with 9:33 left in the second quarter, but Stonehouse’s extra-point kick was blocked by Edison’s Mark Lamson.

Vanis bobbled a punt with 6:34 left in the second quarter, which set up Edison’s second touchdown. Edison’s Paul Chalabian recovered the fumble at the Loyola 18, and three plays later, Khamis scored.