Edison dominates every phase over St. Paul

MILAN — The goal was more balance. A week ago, the Edison football team didn't necessarily need that balance in a 35-6 win over Firelands. But faced with several key situations early, the Chargers completed numerous passes against visiting St. Paul. Regardless, through the air and on the ground, Edison had the answer for the Flyers at every turn in a 42-6 win Friday night in Milan. The game was scoreless after one quarter, only to see the Chargers to score six times in just over 24 minutes. Senior quarterback Marcus Medina ran 12 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 5-of-8 pass attempts for 92 yards and a pair of TDs. "We want to be balanced as much as we can, but any coach's goal going into a game is to take advantage of what you see from a defense," Edison head coach Jim Hall said. "I think St. Paul has a really good defense that flies around the field, but our kids did a really good job of adjusting to what they saw. "We've got some kids who can make plays," he added. "As silly as it sounds, it comes down to kids making plays." The key play early for Edison (2-0) came late in the first quarter when it was faced with a fourth-and-9 from the St. Paul 23. Medina found Davin Wendt for a 15-yard gain. Two plays later, on the first play of the second quarter, Bryson Wittmer bulled in from two yards out for the TD. The first of six Alex Davidson PATs gave Edison the 7-0 lead. A dropped pass on a fourth-down pass from inside the Edison 35 stalled the ensuing St. Paul drive. The Chargers then moved 62 yards in 14 plays with Luke Blatnik scoring from the 4 to extend the lead to 14-0 at the 4:19 mark of the second. A quick three-and-out then set up Cy Finnen to break off a 62-yard run. Two plays later, Medina found Grayson Smith in the right corner of the end zone for a 15-yard TD pass with just 1:37 left in the half, and just like that it was a 21-0 lead. All doubt was removed just three plays into the third quarter when Medina found Wendt in stride up the home sideline for a 47-yard TD pass and catch and a 28-0 lead. Medina scored on a 33 yard run with 6:55 left to extend the lead to 35-0, though the Flyers quickly answered when Ben Burger scored on a 40-yard run. It was set up on a 37-yard pass and catch from Drew Kuhnle to Ashton Stang. Medina then closed the scoring with 10:57 left in the game on a 42-yard run. "It helps to have athletes out In space who can take advantage of matchups they see," Hall said. "I'll give our defense a lot of credit. They were really physical up front, knowing St. Paul is just going to pound you every play and wear you down. "Our kids met the challenge this week," he added. "We watched them do that last week where they wore Huron down by the end and got right back in it, so it was really important for us to keep that momentum." Also for Edison, Finnen finished with 125 yards on just 14 attempts for the Chargers, while Wittmer added 68 yards on 12 attempts. For St. Paul, Burger ran 14 times for 80 yards and the lone score. Drew Kuhnle was 8-of-14 passing for 74 yards, with Ashton Stang catching two passes for 40 yards. "They made plays and controlled the line of scrimmage and we didn't," St. Paul head coach John Livengood said. "They executed better than us and they outplayed and outcoached us in every phase of the game. "I think it was accumulative type of effect," he added. "It was us thinking we were going to have a stop and give up a first down; thinking we have a first down and not converting. It was an accumulation of things. Give credit to where it's due. Edison has great skilled kids that is well-coached." Edison is at Gibsonburg next Friday while St. Paul travels to Tiffin Calvert (2-0). "We need to flush this and move on," Livengood said. "We have another tough one at Calvert, and we'll need to rise to the challenge." St. Paul 0 0 6 0 — 6 Edison 0 21 14 7 — 42 Scoring EDI — Bryson Wittmer 2 run (Alex Davidson kick) EDI — Luke Blatnik 4 run (Davidson kick) EDI — Grayson Smith 15 pass from Marcus Medina (Davidson kick) EDI — Davin Wendt 47 pass from Medina (Davidson kick) EDI — Medina 33 run (Davidson kick) STP — Ben Burger 40 run (kick failed) EDI — Medina 42 run (Davidson kick)