Championship preview: Edison vs. Villa Park

CIF-SS SOUTHWEST DIVISION FINAL

EDISON (12-1) VS. VILLA PARK (12-1)

Where, when: Angel Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Streams live on Fox Sports West Prep Zone

OUTLOOK: Sunset League champion Edison is returning to a division final for the first time since 2009, when it lost to Servite in the Pac-5 title game, and the fourth time in 12 seasons. Coach Dave White is in search of his first CIF title in 27 seasons. The Chargers' last championship came in 1985, the season before he took over. Last week, top-seeded Edison rallied in the fourth quarter to beat fourth-seeded Foothill, 22-16. The Chargers have recorded a school record five shutouts this season and allowed just three touchdowns in the playoffs. Their only defeat came to Mater Dei, which is in the Pac-5 finals. Century League champion Villa Park has won 10 consecutive games since losing to Edison, 27-7, in September. Last week, the third-seeded Spartans upset previously unbeaten Tustin, the division's No. 2 seed, 35-34. The Spartans edged Newport Harbor of the Sunset League the week before. Villa Park, which has steadily risen under fourth-year coach Dusan Ancich, was 1-9 just five seasons ago. The program played in three consecutive CIF title games from 1975-77, winning in '77.

EDISON LEADERS

QB Alek Torgersen 135 of 280, 2,132 yards, 16TDs, 10 INTs

RB Marquis Ross 116 car., 714 yards, 8TDs

RB Donald Rice 95 car., 525 yards, 8TDs

WR Trevor Borkowski 42 rec., 723 yards, 5TDs

DE Derek Baljeu 11 sacks

LB Robert Reyes 111 total tackles

LB Elijah Herrera 4 interceptions

VILLA PARK LEADERS

QB Dylan Osborne 150 of 243, 2,246 yards, 18TDs, 5 INTs

RB Meki Tafuna 245 car., 1,392 yards, 28TDs

WR Dustin Harrison 40 rec., 703 yards, 4TDs

WR Luis Vecchio 24 rec. 270 yards, 4TDs

DE Rudy Hurtado 25 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles

LB Grant Klasna 113 total tackles, 7.5 sacks

DB Derrick Kendrick 3 interceptions, 15 pass deflections

COACH'S ANALYSIS

Foothill coach Doug Case led the Knights to a 10-3 season, its best mark in years. Two of those defeats, however, came to Friday's Southwest finalists. Villa Park beat Foothill, 25-21, in early October during league play, and Edison knocked off the Knights, 22-16, in last week's semifinal round. The Knights held fourth–quarter leads against each team, their 16 points the most by a Chargers opponent all season.

What Edison must do to win:

"I think they just need to stick with their game plan, try and be physical. They have a very capable passing attack. They're going to test Villa Park's defensive backs and linebackers. Edison averages over 300 pounds on the offensive line. If it's a rain game, I think this time this team has the ability to get down and dirty in the trenches. That being said, that's what Villa Park's done all year long. Edison predominantly plays eight guys in the box, their defensive line is very good, their linebackers play downhill at the snap of the ball. Running the ball is going to be hard to do. Edison has a very good defense, the best run defense we've faced all season long."

What Villa Park must do to win:

"Villa Park is going to have to mix it up more than they have, even though (Meki) Tafuna is going to get most of the load. They're going to have to run play-action, try to get the ball down the field. Defensively, we had an issue with (Edison's) size. I think Villa Park matches up better. They have a little more beef. One of the keys is they're going to have to play some man coverage so they can get eight or nine in the box."

Prediction: Edison, 24-17

PROBABLE STARTERS

EDISON

Offense

10 Alek Torgersen QB

25 Donald Rice RB

9 Elijah Herrera RB

12 Trevor Borkowski WR

19 Marcus Stepanich WR

80 Markus Boyer TE

68 Zach Egnotovich LT

77 Jeremiah Frost LG

60 David Siliuta C

64 Tico Fuga RG

76 Jesse Sosebee RT

29 Hunter Kelley K

13 Kiante Goudeau KR

Defense

2 Derek Baljeu DE

94 Zach Donnelly DT

81 Trenton Aschoff DT

44 Garrett Garcia DE

36 Robert Reyes LB

25 Donald Rice LB

9 Elijah Herrera LB

34 Alejandro Perez LB

3 Jeremy Maxwell CB

5 Dylan Luther S

13 Kiante Goudeau CB

10 Alek Torgersen P

5 Dylan Luther PR

VILLA PARK

Offense

9 Dylan Osborne QB

36 Meki Tafuna FB

28 Justin Mottram RB

81 Dustin Harrison WR

17 Kyle Gordon WR

90 Luis Vecchio TE

74 Nick Whitton LT

64 Demitri Medenas LG

58 Ashton Morgan C

78 Juni Tafuna RG

67 Chaz Murakami RT

29 Jason Sanders K

28 Justin Mottram KR

Offense

90 Luis Vecchio DE

74 Nick Whitton DT

55 Andrew Sotelo DT

59 Rudy Hurtado DE

45 Grant Klasna LB

44 James Stamos LB

35 Christian Castro LB

11 Ralph Valle CB

28 Justin Mottran S

7 Michael Harlin S

1 Derrick Kendrick CB

29 Jason Sanders P

81 Dustin Harrison PR