EDISON

1999 RECORD: 7-3 overall, 2-3 in league

COACH: Dave White (95-55-2 in 14 seasons at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 on offense, 6 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Darryl Poston, RB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Richard Schwartz, QB, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Chris Veneracion, OL, 6-3, 260, Sr.; Seth Prelesnik, LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Billy Haley, DL, 6-3, 250, Sr.; Christian Prelle, WR, 6-3, 195, Sr.; A.J. Martinez, DB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Denny Flanagan, WR, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Marcus McCutcheon, DB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Steve Burke, OL, 6-2, 260, Sr.; Travis Wilson, DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Tim Keating, DE, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Josh Slaton, DB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Matt Beckelman, DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Brandon O’Reilly, DE, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Steve Keller, DE, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Kevin Hathaway, DE, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Chris Green, DE, 5-10, 180, Sr.

OUTLOOK

With two of Orange County’s most prolific players--Poston and Schwartz--returning, Edison is poised to supplant Mater Dei as the county’s top team. Poston ran for 1,694 yards last season and could break the school’s single-season rushing record of 2,268 yards this fall. Schwartz passed for 1,896 yards last season and could easily surpass that figure with Flanagan and Prelle back at wide receiver. The offensive line features three newcomers, but White expects them to fit in nicely. With so much offensive firepower, the Chargers could easily lead Division I in scoring offense for a second consecutive year and win their first Sunset League title since 1990. Defensively, the Chargers, who gave up large chunks of yardage on the ground in their three narrow defeats last season, should be improved. Linebacker Prelesnik--who could become the school’s all-time leader in tackles--will direct the unit, along with returning cornerbacks McCutcheon and Martinez. If Edison goes undefeated through its nonleague schedule like last year, there is no reason to think the Chargers can’t run the table this time.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 8 vs. El Toro at Trabuco Hills HS; 15 vs. Capistrano Valley at Huntington Beach HS; 22 at Dana Hills; 29 vs. Mater Dei at Orange Coast College.

Oct. 7 vs. Servite at Cal State Fullerton; 13 at Huntington Beach; 19 vs. Los Alamitos at Long Beach Veterans Stadium; 26 vs. Marina at Huntington Beach HS.

Nov. 3 vs. Fountain Valley at OCC; 9 vs. Esperanza at Huntington Beach HS.