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 San Clemente coach Jamie Ortiz, left, and Edison coach Dave White will be facing each other in the CIF State Regional playoffs. The teams meet Saturday at Huntington Beach High. (Photo by Sam Gangwer , Orange County Register/SCNG)
San Clemente coach Jamie Ortiz, left, and Edison coach Dave White will be facing each other in the CIF State Regional playoffs. The teams meet Saturday at Huntington Beach High. (Photo by Sam Gangwer , Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.
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Edison coach Dave White acknowledged having mixed feelings Sunday morning when he found out the Chargers would play San Clemente in the CIF State Regional football playoffs.

“It’s a great game for the fans,” White said. “Both teams have been playing really well this season. Both teams have had success over the years, and both teams have a history of having great community support. So, yeah, this should be an exciting matchup for them.

“But I kind of wish we didn’t have to play them (San Clemente). And I know Jaime feels the same way.”

White was referring to San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz. The two coaches spoke Sunday morning, shortly after the regional pairings were released. White said they shared the same disappointment about having to play each other in the Division 1-A regional final Saturday night at Huntington Beach High.

“We both wish we could be playing other teams, so we both could have a chance to make it to state (championship games),” White said. “But at least, I guess, this way at least one of us will get to go.”

The other county team joining Edison (13-1) and San Clemente (11-3) in the state playoffs is Yorba Linda (12-2), which won its first CIF-SS title Friday night by beating Burbank, 31-21, in the CIF-SS Division 8 final.

The Mustangs will play St. Anthony of Long Beach (12-2) in the Division 4-A regional final Saturday night at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.

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STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE

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“This is new for me and new for our entire program,” Coach Jeff Bailey said of playing in the state playoffs, “but we’re excited. It’s been a long season, and the players are a little bit beat up. But we’ll get together with them Monday and start preparing them for St. Anthony.

“There’s only a few teams in the state still playing, and we’re one of them. That’s something to be proud of.”

Only teams that won section titles advanced to the state playoffs. San Clemente won the CIF-SS Division 2 title and Edison won CIF-SS Division 3.

The winners of the regional finals advance to the state championships, which will be held Dec. 16-17 at various sites. The winner of the Edison-San Clemente game will play the Northern California champion at 4 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Sacramento State.

“I’ll turn 61 on Dec. 18th, the day after the state championship game,” said White, who is retiring at the end of this season, his 31st as the Chargers’ coach. “That would be kind of a fun way to spend my birthday.”