Viles helps Edison sneak past Fountain Valley

COSTA MESA - Quarterback Matt Viles threw two touchdown passes in the final six minutes to help rally No. 4 Edison past No. 8 Fountain Valley, 14-7, in a wild “Battle for the Bell” game Friday night in front of an estimated 9,000 at Orange Coast College.

Edison (7-2, 3-1) sealed the Sunset League victory on the final play as Fountain Valley quarterback Dominic Ragland’s pass from the Chargers 20-yard-line sailed through the back of the end zone.

The Chargers had plenty to celebrate as they maintained a share of first place and beat their archrival for a fourth consecutive year to take a 26-14-1 lead in the series.

A few Edison players hoisted teammate Luke Gane on their shoulders. Gane had a bone marrow transplant in the summer and was attending his first game.

“I had to come to this one,” said Gane, who is battling aplastic anemia. “It’s insane.”

Viles threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Michael Rivera with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter as Edison took a 14-7 lead.

“That was a great catch and a great throw,” Edison coach Dave White said.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Kyle Middlebrooks had an 88-yard return for a touchdown negated by a holding penalty at Fountain Valley’s 25-yard line. The Barons reached Edison’s 20 for Ragland’s final attempt.

Edison capitalized on Fountain Valley penalties on its final scoring drive. The Barons (6-3, 2-2) had a personal foul and later an offside penalty on a fourth-and-1 play with from their 21 with 1:58 left. Two plays later, Viles connected with Rivera.

Fountain Valley held Edison to 18 yards of total offense in the first half, but the Chargers used a trick play in the fourth quarter for a spark.

On a first-down play from his 34, Viles pitched the ball to Davion Orphey on an apparent sweep. Orphey passed it back to Viles, who connected with tight end William Andrew for a 38-yard gain.

“Exactly Boise State’s play. Exactly,” said White, whose son, Hunter, plays for the Broncos.

The play led to Viles’ 3-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Zumwalt that tied the score at 7 with 5:38 left.

Fountain Valley turned an Edison fumble into a 2-yard touchdown run by Middlebrooks on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Fountain Valley’s Scot Bailey then intercepted Viles and appeared headed for a touchdown but was tripped up by Wade Houston at Edison’s 22.

 Houston’s hustle loomed larger as the Barons later missed their second field goal of the game.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com