Ross sparks Edison to victory over Villa Park

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Edison played well enough to win, and by a comfortable margin.

But would it have been a sufficient performance to beat Edison's next three opponents?

Edison defeated Villa Park, 27-7, Thursday at Huntington Beach High. Marquis Ross rushed for 92 yards and three touchdowns, and the Edison starting defense did not give up a touchdown for the second time in as many games.

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The Chargers defense probably needs to be a little better, and the offense likely a whole lot better, for their next three games.

Edison plays Servite, ranked No. 5 in Orange County, next Friday at Cerritos College, Servite's home field. Servite has a bye this week. After that, Edison plays a home game against No. 3 Mater Dei on Sept. 21 at Orange Coast College. Then it's another road game against No. 9 San Clemente.

Chargers coach Dave White did not sound much like a coach who has seen his team improve to 2-0, including last week's 24-0 shutout of Garfield of Los Angeles.

"We have so much to fix on offense, I don't know where to start," said White after his 191st career coaching victory. "I don't think we ever had 11 guys do what they were supposed to do on offense."

Still, Edison had control of this game from the early moments of this matchup of two teams ranked high in the CIF-Southern Section's Southwest Division. Edison is No. 2, behind Tustin, and Villa Park (2-1) is No. 4 in the Southwest. After decades playing in the section's top division, lately called the Pac-5 Division, Edison and the rest of the Sunset League are in the Southwest Division.

In the county rankings, Edison is No. 6 and Villa Park is No. 14.

Edison took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when senior linebacker Robert Reyes returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown. Ross spread touchdown runs of 30, 13 and 8 yards over the first three quarters.

Villa Park running back Meki Tafuna, who had rushed for 307 yards and six touchdowns over Villa Park's first two games, was held to 64 yards.

Villa Park's next game is a Spartans home game against Norte Vista of Riverside next Friday at El Modena High.