PHOTOS: Motivated Edison Chargers capture CIF Division 3 title with upset vs. Simi Valley

Edison players celebrate after winning CIF Division 3 title Friday night. (PHOTOS: Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Motivation perhaps played a big role for Edison High School’s football team, which upset top-seeded Simi Valley 35-21 to capture the CIF Division 3 championship Friday night at Huntington Beach.

The third-seeded Chargers (10-4) were without their leading rusher Julius Gillick, who was suspended for one game after receiving two unsportsmanlike penalties in the semifinal victory last week. The officiating crew declined to rescind either of the penalties after an appeal by Edison.

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Athletic Director Rich Boyce said this week that coaches, including head coach Jeff Grady, believed other players would step up and they certainly did helping the Chargers earn a spot in next week’s CIF Southern Regional. Gillick, who has rushed for more than 2,000 yards, will be eligible to play in the game.

Pairings will be announced Sunday.

It’s the seventh CIF title for Edison and first since 2016 when the Chargers defeated La Mirada 44-24 to capture the Division 3 title.

Many players stepped up Friday night for Edison.

Jake Minter scored the Chargers first two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Sam Thomson connected with Minter on a pass play to put Edison ahead 7-0.

Simi Valley tied the game 7-7 later in the first quarter.

But Minter scored on a 16-yard TD run with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter to give Edison a 14-7 lead. Thomson then connected with Ayden DeGiacomo on a pass play to put the Chargers ahead 21-7.

Simi Valley scored in the third quarter to cut the lead to 21-14 but Thomson hooked up with Aidan Brown on a 70-yard strike to put the Chargers ahead 28-14.

Edison moved ahead 35-14 late in the third quarter when Thomson scored on a quarterback keeper.

Simi Valley cut Edison’s lead to 35-21 with a touchdown late in the game.

The Edison defense got big plays from Cooper Cirillo, Nathan Stephens and Matt Lopez to contain Simi Valley (9-5).

Source: Edison High School Athletics.