They returned to the scene of their heartbreaking loss in last year’s Virginia Division 5 Northern Region championship, but few gave Edison High much chance to change the result.
With just four starters back and again facing an unbeaten Stone Bridge High team that had hardly been challenged this year the task was monumental.
The Eagles proved up to it.
Visiting Edison’s defense forced three turnovers, turning each into a touchdown, and outlasted injury-plagued Stone Bridge in the second half, 31-17, to win its first region title since 1986.
“We kept saying that the third time was the charm even if not many people outside our team believed that,” said Edison senior quarterback Shawn Lloyd, whose team had lost to W.T. Woodson (29-25) and Stone Bridge (29-21) in the last two region finals. “Playing this team and beating them was a barrier we all had to get through. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Edison (10-2) trailed, 14-7, before turning an interception by Stone Bridge quarterback Terrence Glenn and a fumble by running back Devon Brown into touchdown drives of 51 and 39 yards, respectively, to take a 21-14 lead. Glenn and Brown entered with 3,276 combined yards of total offense and 50 touchdowns. But both left the game after the first drive of the third quarter with cramps and various other injuries and missed much of the second half.
Edison finished with five sacks and twice stopped Stone Bridge (11-1) on fourth down inside the 25-yard line. Sophomore running back Stephon Robertson scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 4 yards for Edison. His second score came with 5:58 to go and put the Eagles up, 28-17.
