MORENO VALLEY – If anyone thought Dave White’s 31-year career at Edison would go down easy, they would be sorely mistaken. Not with these Chargers.
Griffin O’Connor led drives to retake the lead twice in the fourth quarter, including the winning touchdown run with 54 seconds remaining, to help Edison topple Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley, 32-28, in a CIF-Southern Section Division 3 semifinal on Friday night at Rancho Verde High.
Edison (12-1) advances to play in White’s fifth CIF-SS Final against La Mirada next week looking for its first CIF-SS title since 2012.
“For these kids to get to play in the CIF Final is unbelievable,” White said. “If you told me in the summer that we were going to be 12-1 with our one loss to Mater Dei and be in the finals, I’d have taken it in a heartbeat. I’m happy for these guys.
“I’ve been doing it for 30 years, but this team gets one chance to get to the finals and they get to do it.”
With the ball at the Edison 29-yard line with 3:45 remaining and Rancho Verde (11-2) leading, 28-25, the Chargers’ fate was put squarely into the hands of O’Connor.
Edison started the drive with six straight passes, including an intentional grounding and a 21-yard pass to Shaun Colamonico that made up for the misstep.
A 20-yard pass to EJ Ginnis set up Edison on the 7-yard line, and O’Connor then ran down the left side for the touchdown, the lead and the win.
“It goes back to the offseason,” O’Connor said. “All the extra work, the extra sprints, extra lifting, it all came back in that last drive.”
Immediately after Edison took a 10-7 lead in the third quarter, Rancho Verde responded as Tyler Kennedy ran the ensuing kickoff back 99 yards to put Rancho Verde ahead, 14-10.
Edison was held three-and-out, and Rancho Verde marched down the field to extend its lead, 21-10.
Edison responded as Jack Carmichael scored on a 13-yard run, and O’Connor completed the two-point conversion to Colamonico to pull the Chargers within 21-18.
Edison’s defense got the ball back with a three-and-out, and O’Connor helped Edison retake the lead, 25-21, on a 9-yard touchdown run.
With the aid of a pass interference call, Rancho Verde grabbed the lead again, 28-25, on a 1-yard run by Marlon Moorer.
O’Connor finished 19 of 33 passing for 295 yards and a touchdown.
Colamonico caught seven passes for 108 yards.
David Atencio caught six balls for 98 yards and a touchdown.
