Edison puts perfect record on line against rival Huron

It's all coming together for Edison. The Chargers are 9-0 heading into Friday's regular-season finale at rival Huron. Edison is No. 1 in the Division V Region 18 computer rankings and tied for No. 2 in this week's Associated Press poll. To give the team a boost heading into the postseason, senior running back Luke Blatnik returns in Week 10 after missing three games with a broken collarbone. Blatnik, a physical runner and linebacker, was cleared to play earlier this week. "We're gonna ease him back in," Edison coach Jim Hall said. "We're excited for him." Blatnik is part of Edison's "three-headed monster" at running back. That monster has been slowed by injuries — Cy Finnen and Bryson Wittmer both have missed time in the backfield — but looks to be trending in the right direction. Finnen, nursing an ankle injury, played only on defense last week, which surprised Hall. "I didn't think Cy would play at all," Hall said. "He went out Friday after school and ran a little bit and played the whole game on defense, which was huge for us." Edison slowed down a hot Vermilion team 17-0, securing the Chargers' third shutout of the season. Wittmer carried the load with 165 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. His 61-yard score midway through the fourth quarter put the win on ice. "We felt like we had three fullbacks and we were down to Witt and he gutted it out," Hall said. As a team, the Chargers have rushed for 2,358 yards and 31 touchdowns. Finnen leads the way with 704 yards and eight scores. Wittmer has 552 yards and nine TDs. Senior quarterback Abe Hermes directs the triple-option offense and has contributed 496 rushing yards and six TDs. He's thrown for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. Edison travels to Huron with a chance to finish undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1981. The Tigers, who are 6-3 but have lost two straight, would like to spoil that party against a team they know well. "Our (school) districts touch and we're very familiar with each other," Huron coach Sam Hohler said. "The last 10 years or so both programs have had good records. This is a big game and there are huge implications." Edison is 3-0 in the SBC Bay while Huron and Vermilion are 2-1. A win by the Tigers would open the possibility of a three-way tie in a five-team division. Vermilion hosts Bellevue on Friday. Huron needs a win to guarantee a home playoff game next week. "They've been in every game," Hall said. "We look at this as a 'throw out the records' situation. We know what they're capable of and we have to attack them with the game plan we put together." Junior quarterback Landon Hohler leads the Tigers with 1,545 total yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior receiver Tommie McDonald has caught 45 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Jackson McNulty is the second-leading tackler in the Bay Division with 105 stops. He also has five quarterback sacks and has caught three touchdown passes on offense. Huron is ranked No. 4 in Division VI Region 22 computer points. The Tigers' three losses have been by a total of 23 points. Last week, Huron led Clyde before falling 20-7. "Four different times we were in the red zone and scored seven points," Hohler said. "We have to find ways to get more points on the board to give us a chance." The Tigers have shuffled their offensive line since losing senior center Riley Deans-Marxmiller to a knee injury. He had surgery this week. Hohler said the Tigers spend a lot of time on Edison's option offense. "We practice for Edison throughout the season," he said. "We have to make sure we're where we're supposed to be. It's easier said than done because they run their offense so well."