ORANGE – The last thing Edison offensive lineman Josh Hadlock expected Friday night was to have the ball in his hands as he crossed the goal line.
But that’s what happened to the right tackle on the final play of the first half against Canyon, the most memorable of several big plays by the Chargers in their 38-19 victory at El Modena High.
Edison was trailing 12-7 when it unleashed three consecutive touchdowns over the final 7 minutes 17 seconds of the first half, the final coming from Hadlock with no time on the clock.
The Chargers (3-0) had taken possession at the Canyon 27 with nine seconds left. Bowen Blake threw a slip screen to wide receiver Shaun Colamonico and he found room up the seam before taking a hit near the 5-yard line.
The ball sprung loose, but Hadlock, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior, scooped up the fumble and pushed his way into the end zone for his first touchdown, giving Edison a 28-12 halftime lead.
“I was just running down the field and noticed that he fumbled the ball and I picked it up,” Hadlock said. “Next thing I know, I’m in the end zone.”
Colamonico did his part to help the Chargers, catching two long touchdown passes, both in impressive style.
Canyon (0-3) had success running the ball early against the Chargers. The Comanches marched 83 yards on 15 plays on their opening drive and took a 6-0 lead on an 8-yard run by 6-foot-2, 263-pound tight end Josh Tarango.
Colamonico then made the catch of the night, a fingertip grab over the middle that resulted in a 60-yard touchdown and moved the Chargers ahead 7-6 with 4:20 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Comanches strung together another long drive and Tarango again capped it off with a touchdown, this time an 8-yard reception out of the backfield after a nice run-fake to move Canyon back in front 12-7.
