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CIF STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIVISION 1-A
Edison (11-4) vs. Central of Fresno (12-2)
Where, when: Saddleback College, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
TV: Spectrum News, Spectrum SportsNet
Parking: $5
Tickets: gofan.co, $15 general admission, $10 students/seniors
Outlook: Edison coach Jeff Grady will be facing a familiar opponent in Central. Grady, a former quarterback and assistant coach at Fresno State, used to recruit the Fresno school as part of his collegiate duties. Edison and Central have a common opponent in Clovis West. The Chargers lost to Clovis West 29-28 in the teams’ season opener while Central beat Clovis West 45-27 in league. Central captured the CIF Central Section Division 1-AA title as the No. 3 seed. Along the way, the Grizzlies avenged previous losses against Clovis North and Clovis East. Central’s up-tempo offense averages 35.7 points and features a strong running back, dual-threat quarterback and multiple receivers to watch. Junior RB Brandon Smith has rushed for 1,800 yards and also stars at linebacker. Sophomore QB Jelani Dippel has passed for 3,230 yards and rushed for 378 yards. Central has three receivers with at least 42 receptions.
Edison, the CIF-SS Division 3 champion, counters with a physical offense led by record-setting running back Julius Gillick (2,365 yards, 35 TDs) and an underrated offensive line. The Chargers feature their own promising sophomore QB in Sam Thomson, who made starts as a freshman. Edison’s defense, which is holding teams to 17.1 points, will need to play well. Linebackers Matt Lopez and Jeremiah Ross lead the unit with 144 and 136 total tackles, respectively. Former Servite coach Troy Thomas serves as defensive coordinator. The Chargers will also need to be ready for the Grizzlies’ athleticism on special teams. “They’re really good,” Grady said of Central. “They’re big. They’re physical. They’re fast.”
Prediction: Edison. The Chargers have the ground attack to keep the Grizzlies’ offense off the field and slow down their playmaking. Edison’s formidable defense should deliver enough stops as the Chargers claim their first state crown.
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