Edison’s O’Connor accounts for 7 TDs

Edison’s Shaun Colamonico (25) in congratulated after scoring against Newbury Park in the first quarter of a CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game at Huntington Beach High. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Shaun Colamonico takes the ball downfield for a first down as Newbury Park tries to stop him in the first quarter of a CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game at Huntington Beach High. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Bowen Blake and Nick Warren stop Newbury Park’s Mateen Johnson from scoring in the first quarter of the first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 football playoffs at Huntington Beach High. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Jack Carmichael is taken down by Newbury Park but was considered down before the ball became loose in the first quarter of a CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game at Huntington Beach High. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Mccade Barrett dives toward the goal line but the pass is called as out of bounds and incomplete during a first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game against Newbury Park. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Mccade Barrett raises the ball one yard from the touchdown line to show he still had possession but the catch was called out of bounds during a first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game against Newbury Park. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Shaun Colamonico runs with the ball for a 21-yard gain as Newbury Park’s Luke Smith grabs on at the end of the first quarter of a CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game at Huntington Beach High. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Nick Warren dives for a ball meant for Newbury Park’s Ian Albaeck but was called for pass interference in the second quarter of a CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game at Huntington Beach High. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Jack Carmichael runs the ball in for a touchdown that was called back on a penalty during a CIF-SS Division 3 football playoff game against Newbury Park at Huntington Beach High. (PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Edison’s Jack Carmichael tiptoes down the sideline for a 20-yard gain in the second quarter versus Newbury Park.

By John Sherrard | Orange County Register

November 11, 2016 at 11:33 p.m.

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Griffin O’Connor threw for four touchdowns and ran for three more Friday night as Edison extended legendary coach Dave White‘s career another week by pulling away to a 49-24 triumph over Newbury Park in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoff opener at Huntington Beach High School.

O’Connor topped 200 yards for the fourth straight game, completing 18 of 35 throws for 245 yards, and Jack Carmichael gained most of his 108 yards on 10 carries with a 57-yard sprint to set up the Chargers’ final score.

Edison (10-1), which claimed its first playoff victory since reaching the Southwest Division semifinals three years ago, will be home for the quarterfinals against Buena Park, tentatively next Friday night at Orange Coast College. The Coyotes topped San Juan Hills, 20-7.

“They have athletes, they’ve got some weapons,” said White, who claimed his 235th win in 31 seasons with the Chargers. “We were worried they were going to make some plays, and they did. But we made more, I guess. … There’s no way they’re the 15th-best team in this division, but glad we got them over with.”

Newbury Park (7-4) was limited without Oklahoma-bound Cameron Rising, one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, but sophomore Braden Handy threw for 228 yards, a good deal of it on a 68-yard touchdown pass to Ian Albaeck on the Panthers’ final offensive play.

O’Connor started slowly, throwing an interception at the Edison 17 after collecting on a bounce a snap over his head on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Josh Madison pushed in from 2 yards six plays later to give Newbury Park the lead, but O’Connor connected on two long passes, the second to Shaun Colamonico in the end zone, as the Chargers pulled even just 44 seconds later.

O’Connor hit Colamonico again near the end of the quarter for the lead, then hit Carmichael for a score for a 21-7 advantage. Newbury Park rallied within four points on a field goal and Ryan Matlock’s 37-yard run, but the Panthers failed on a fake punt, leading to O’Connor’s first TD run. before Edison stopped them on three plays inside the 5 in the final 18 seconds of the half.

O’Connor hooked up with E.J. Ginnis midway through the third quarter, then finished two drives with short TD bursts as the Chargers pushed their advantage to 49-17.