Edison 10-0 for first time since 1981

HURON — Edison started running and never stopped. The Chargers' mystifying triple-option offense churned out 380 yards on the ground to help Edison defeat Huron 28-3 Friday night at Mucci Field. The win moved Edison to 10-0 and gave the Chargers their first undefeated regular season since 1981. It also secured another SBC Bay Division championship and ensured that Edison would be a No. 1 seed in Division V Region 18 when the playoffs kick off next week. "One of our coaches said it best: It takes a team," Edison coach Jim Hall said. "It takes guys at practice willing to compete, scout team guys willing to grind it out against the kids playing on Friday night. It's a community thing. I couldn't be prouder of these guys." Edison (4-0 in the Bay) had 19 running plays that gained nine or more yards. The Chargers didn't score in the first quarter, but seemed to be in control the last 3 1/2 quarters while piling up 26 first downs. "It didn't start the way we wanted, obviously," Hall said. "We had a turnover early and didn't execute on fourth down (second drive), but our kids stayed the course. The defense played great and we were able to get things going with the run game and Abe (Hermes) hit a few passes. "We want to control the football, control the clock, control the game." It helped having junior running back Bryson Wittmer in the backfield. Wittmer carried 19 times for 182 yards and scored on runs covering 9, 9 and 8 yards. "First day of summer workouts we're always 'Huron week, Huron week,' " Wittmer said. "Ever since back in the day Huron's been our rival. We knew there would be a good chance that it was Huron and us for SBC champs." Wittmer, a physical 225-pound junior, ran around and through the Tigers (7-3, 2-2 Ba. He dutifully credited his offensive line in a postgame interview and credited senior backs Cy Finnen and Luke Blatnik. "I look up to Cyrus Finnen and Luke Blatnik. I played Ohio Dogs with them since I was little," Wittmer said. "Them teaching me and stepping up being big brothers to me, that's just the mojo of Edison running football. We hit everybody we can. I love going out of my way to hit people." Finnen, who has been battling a sore ankle, carried 13 times for 54 yards. "Cy's coming back," Hall said. "He got a little dinged up again but he's a competitor. You're not gonna keep him out of the game." Blatnik, who returned after breaking his collarbone a month ago, carried four times for 24 yards but left the field midway through the second quarter and had an arm in a sling afterward. Hermes added 49 yards on the ground and 87 through the air, including a 25-yard laser to Davin Wendt for a touchdown that gave Edison a 21-3 lead late in the first half. Edison's defense held Huron to 122 total yards on Senior Night. The Chargers stopped Huron twice on fourth-and-short to take possession. Edison's last touchdown was set up by a 23-yard desperation fling on third-and-12 that Wittmer somehow caught at the Huron 12-yard line. "The kid's got great ball skills, great speed," Hall joked. "Pretty good player." Hermes was under pressure and got rid of the ball. Wittmer went up and came down with it. "That probably wasn't supposed to happen," Wittmer said. "I yelled at Abe and ran in the middle of the field and prayed that I could catch it. I saw him throw it up and said, 'Man, I gotta go get that.' I never took my eye off it and thanked the Lord when I brought it down." Edison will soon find out who it hosts next Friday. If the Chargers win their playoff opener they would host again in Round 2. "We want to make a big run in the playoffs," Wittmer said. "We gotta take it day by day and work our butts off. We have to focus on what we can control." Edison 0 21 0 7 — 28Huron 0 3 0 0 — 3 H — Cameron Manner 23 field goalE — Bryson Wittmer 9 run (Alex Davidson kick)E — Wittmer 9 run (Davidson kick)E — Davin Wendt 25 pass from Abe Hermes (Davidson kick)E — Wittmer 8 run (Davidson kick)