The SoCal Division II Regional matchup features big-time defense against big-time athleticism on offense.
Edison coach Dave White finally won a section title at Edison after 27 seasons, and the Chargers are rewarded with a Regional Bowl Game berth.
Photo by Rob Carmell
Can a staunch defense manage to slow down an athletic, high-octane offense? We'll find out Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Frequent State Bowl competitor
Serra (Gardena) will take its fast-paced show to Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa to face
Edison (Huntington Beach) and its stout defense. Something will have to give here.
Edison's defense has been unreal this season, averaging 6.4 points allowed. The most the Chargers yielded in a game was 16 points, five contests ended in shutouts and three more ended with the opponent only managing a field goal. They have forced nabbed 18 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries.
Inoke Raikadroka and Serra earned yetanother berth in the state playoffs.
Photo by Ian Tennant
Just as amazing as the Edison defense is, you could say the same about Serra's offense. The Cavaliers scored nine points against Narbonne (Harbor City), but other than that their smallest output is 20 points. Serra averages just less than 35 points per game, led by sophomore running back
Malik Roberson (139 carries, 1,372 yards, 13 TDs), junior quarterback
Jalen Greene (151 of 242 for 2,230 yards and 22 scores, plus 129 carries for 919 yards and eight scores), and receiver
Darrell Fuery (32 cataches, 609 yards, 11 touchdowns).
Edison's defense is led by 111 tackles from senior
Robert Reyes and 11 sacks from
Derek Baljeu. The offense goes by committee behind a big offensive line, as
Elijah Herrera is third on the team with 75 carries for 455 yards,
Donald Rice is second with 96 carries for 525 yards and eight scores and the leader is
Marquis Ross with 116 carries for 714 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior quarterback
Aleksander Torgersen is 135 of 280 for 2,132 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Dustin Harrison and Robert Reyes are partof a brutal Edison defense.
Photo by Rob Carmell
Edison coach Dave White won his first section title in 27 years at the school, as his team forced five turnovers to beat Villa Park 28-10 in the Southern Section's Southwest Division final at Angel Stadium,
according to the Orange County Register. The only loss was 20-14 to Pac-5 finalist Mater Dei, 20-14.
"For me, it's a monkey off the back but for these guys, they have been
so good this year and worked so hard," White told the Orange County Register. "I'm just so happy
that they are CIF champs."
Serra avenged a regular-season loss to Chaminade (North Hills) with a 30-28 triumph in the Southern Section Western Division final, overcoming a four-point deficit to begin the fourth quarter.
Malik Roberson, Serra
Photo by Ian Tennant
"We performed great," Serra center
Manase Raikadroka told
the Los Angeles Times. "We got off
to a slow start, but we pulled it out in the end. We were nervous in the
beginning but we found our rhythm."
The Cavaliers are experienced at the state level, losing 48-20 to Folsom in the 2010 Division II game and beating Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 24-20 in the tightly contested 2009 Division III contest in Carson.
In the Freeman Rankings, Serra is ranked No. 34 in the nation and No. 9 in the state. Edison is No. 82 in the nation and 16th in the state.
Watch more videos of Serra football
