Edison stops Port Clinton just short

MILAN TWP. — In a back-and-forth fight that had everyone watching on the edge of their seats, Edison was one play better than Port Clinton as the Chargers defeated the Redskins, 13-7, in a thrilling finish. Holding a six-point lead, Edison (4-2, 1-0 Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division) had to watch Port Clinton drive 94 yards in the final 4:29 before holding the 'Skins on the game's final play. With four seconds to play following a controversial official's timeout and Port Clinton facing a third-and-goal at the Chargers 8-yard-line, Redskins quarterback Cam Gillum dropped back and was nearly sacked before he had to frantically throw up a prayer that fell incomplete, sending Edison into a frenzy. "I had the confidence that we would make the plays (on the last drive)," Edison coach Jim Hall said about his defense. "Our kids have the confidence to know they can do it. "Huge credit to the kids — they never lost confidence to make the plays. They just buckled down and made some effort plays." Port Clinton (3-3, 0-1) converted two fourth downs on the drive, one a fourth-and-7 at the Chargers 33 where Gillum found Adam Thorbahn for a 15-yard gain, and the other on fourth-and-2 at the 10 where Gillum ran over a defender for seven yards to the 3. Another key play came when Gillum found Thorbahn for a 35-yard gain earlier in the drive that got the ball to the Edison 36. With the Chargers facing a third-and-2 at the Redskins 22 and score tied at 7-7 and 8:47 left to play, Clint Finnen took a pitch and ran right before stopping and throwing to Davin Wendt, who was wide open for the touchdown, but the extra point was blocked, leaving Edison ahead, 13-7. The Chargers' first score came with 5:37 to play in the third quarter when Bryson Wittmer carried the ball up the middle for a 6-yard touchdown for the game's first points, and Nick Strrecker's PAT made it 7-0. The key play of the drive came on third-and-15 from the Edison 33 when Marcus Medina found Grayson Smith for a 40-yard pass that saw Smith leap to make an acrobatic catch. Port Clinton answered, driving 55 yards in seven plays. The good field position was set up by Jacob Weldon, who returned the kick to the Redskins 45. The touchdown was scored when Gillum faked a short pass out in the flat and found Thorbahn (7 catches, 134 yards, TD) all by himself for a 24-yard touchdown on third-and-5. Landon Witte's extra point tied the score, 7-7. Neither team seriously threatened in the first half. The closest anyone got was Port Clinton to the Edison 26 when Dagan Meyers was stopped one yard short of a first down on fourth-and-3 by Medina. "We said we're right where we want to be (at halftime)," Hall said. "We knew that it's not going to be easy, it's going to be physical. The mentality was that we had to go out and get the job done." Port Clinton 0 0 7 0 — 7Edison 0 0 7 6 — 13 E — Bryson Wittmer 6 run (Nick Strecker kick) PC — Cam Gillum 24 pass to Adam Thorbahn (Landon Witte kick) E — Clint Finnen 22 pass to Davin Wendt (kick failed)