PHOTOS: Edison Chargers look ready for CIF playoffs after victory over CdM

Edison’s Ashton Hurley scored twice on short passes from quarterback Parker Awad in Friday’s Sunset League game. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

Now what?

That was the question Friday night after visiting Edison collected its ninth win over the season with an overpowering 40-13 Sunset League victory over Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor High School.

First, what’s known … both teams are in the playoffs.

What’s not known … which division and who they’ll play.

The speculation is that Edison (9-1, 4-1), which lost only to Sunset League champion Los Alamitos, will be in Division 1. There is less certainty about Corona del Mar (7-3, 3-2), which could be slotted in either Division 2 or 3.

Pairings will be released by the CIF Sunday.

To see the slide show, click on the first picture:

The matter at hand Friday night was to finish the regular season strongly, and that’s what Edison did, although it took the Chargers a while to get going.

“We had a rough week,” Charger Coach Jeff Grady said. “We were ravaged by the flu and I think that’s why we were so lethargic at the start of the game.”

Out of character, for certain, the Chargers came away empty on two point-blank scoring opportunities in the first quarter. They did score once for a 6-0 lead after one and they 12-0 midway through the second period.

Corona del Mar pulled within five with 1:39 to go until intermission when quarterback David Rasor threw a 20-yard scoring strike to standout receiver Cooper Hoch.

The Sea Kings brought their fans to life moments later by recovering an onside kick. The excitement didn’t last long, unfortunately, as Edison intercepted a pass and Carter Hogue scored on a short run on the last play of the second quarter and Edison led at the break 19-3. It was the second of three TDs Hogue scored in the game.

Playing with greater energy in the third quarter, Edison defenders quickly shut down CdM on its first drive, then zipped downfield, Hogue scoring from four yards out at 8:44 to push the Charger advantage to 26-7.

“I thought we played with more intensity in the second half,” Grady said. “That was more the way we have been playing.”

Both Grady and Corona del Mar Coach Dan O’Shea agreed that it was the Charger offensive line was the critical factor in the game.

“They’re monsters,” O’Shea said.

“It all starts up front,” Grady added. “They gave Parker (quarterback Parker Awad) plenty of time and he ran the offense well.”

Awad completed more than 70 –percent of his 40 passes for more than 390 yards and two scores, both short passes to Ashton Hurley. As noted, Hogue rushed for three scores and Don Lopez also rushed for a score.

The Charger offensive line is imposing, and experienced. Across the front Edison features seniors Nathan Gates (6-5, 275), Zachary Gruwell (5-11,255) and William Emenger (5-11, 240) and juniors Makai Sagiao (6-2, 300) and Logan Shill (6-1, 245).

Hoch scored both Corona del Mar touchdowns, pushing his season total to 18 scores.

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—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone