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Edison fullback Zack Heater (34) charges through the hole off a block for a 47-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

MILAN- 5th-year Edison coach Jim Hall had been preaching ball-control offense to his team all summer. The Chargers were committing themselves to a brand new offense in effort to reverse their fortunes from an 0-10 season in 2004, and Friday night in the season opener vs. Norwalk, the Chargers did the exact opposite of Hall's new offense.

And it worked.

The Chargers scored on three long runs, and a blocked punt as they raced out to a 19-0 second quarter lead, and held off the Truckers for a 25-13 victory. The win snaps an 11-game losing streak dating back to a 2003 playoff loss at Urbana.

"That was the exact opposite of our philosophy," Hall said. "We popped a couple big plays early, but we've been trying to go to a ball-control game. On the other hand, I think it hampered our defense because they were on the field so much. But our defense played great against the run. We missed a few assignments against the pass, but our kids were in position to make plays. But any time you can get a win, your happy. But for our confidence, this was a very important win."

The Truckers took the field on offense first, and after picking up a first down on the first play of the game on a 12-yard run by sophomore Trent Ringle, Norwalk lost eight yards the next three plays forcing a punt situation. Rusty Sternberg then couldn't handle the low snap, and by the time he prepared to kick the ball, two Chargers had blocked the punt. Junior Tristan Stoll then picked up the loose ball and had clear sailing from about 22 yards out for the quick score with 9:56 left in the opening quarter. Noah Hill added his first and only extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Truckers looked to answer, marching from their own 20 and moving down field 26 yards in 11 plays, but an incomplete pass led to a turnover on downs. After both teams exchanged possessions, Edison took over on the Trucker 47 after a punt. The very first play from scrimmage, fullback Zack Heater broke three tackles and was off to the races 47 yards for the score with just 27 seconds left in the quarter. The kick failed, but it was quickly 13-0 in favor of the Chargers.

Then on the third play of the second quarter, after yet another Norwalk punt, Heater struck again on the first play from scrimmage, this time twisting and turning his way to a 56 yard touchdown run with 10:57 left in the half. The try for two points failed, but the dam looked to have a crack in it with the blue and gold down 19-0. It was at that point, however, that the young Trucker team showed some mettle.

Taking over at their own 41-yard line with less than two minutes left, the offense went to work, with sophomore quarterback Kyle Kurtz completing three passes along the way to put Norwalk in scoring position. Then faced with a 4th and goal from the 4, Kurtz hit junior Clay Duncan on a wide open out pattern for the touchdown with 1:03 left in the half. Kurtz's extra point was wide, but the lead was trimmed to 19-6 at the intermission. Kurtz then continued his onslaught in the third quarter.

Both teams exchanged possessions to start the second half, but on Norwalk's third possession, it was their turn for the big play. Kurtz found fullback Josh Cook for 38 yards, then rifled a bullet between two defenders, and junior Nate Borgeson showed great concentration bringing down a 25-yard touchdown pass with 4:19 left in the third quarter. Kurtz's extra point was good this time, and all of the sudden it was 19-13 and the Truckers were not finished. On the ensuing possession, Edison quarterback Justin Neuberger lost the ball, and sophomore Tyler Smith fell on it for Norwalk putting them in great shape at Edison's 35.

Faced with 4th and 5 at the 31, Kurtz showed some gritty toughness that was on display all night, scrambling 12 yards for the first down. Three plays later, it was 4th and 10 at the Edison 19, but a pass fell incomplete for another turnover and the drive fell just short. The Chargers then delivered the knockout blow with one more big play, as this time the Chargers other quarterback, Jarrod Ackerman, sprinted through a wide open Norwalk defense for a 49-yard score with 9:41 left in the contest. The kick failed to wrap up the scoring.

"When you look at our kids, you see a team that played their first game under Friday night lights," Norwalk coach Jeff Cole said. "This is a young team with plenty of inexperience. We fell behind and made some mistakes early, but the kids kept battling and battling back. No one likes to lose...nobody. But the way we battled back, I am extremely proud of their efforts tonight."

Cole talked about the Edison offense picking up the three big plays.

"Edison does a great job on faking to their fullback in the option," he said. "Against that style of offense, you must play disciplined football for four quarters. They got away from us on a couple plays there, but that is a credit to them. They do a good job. We will continue to show effort and work hard, and make strides in practice.  It is a growing process, and there will be some ups and downs along the way."

The Chargers (1-0) attempted just two passes, and completed one for a single yard. Meanwhile, they picked up 228 yards on the ground with Heater racking up 142 yards and the two touchdowns on just 10 attempts. For Norwalk fans, it was a welcome to the Kyle Kurtz era at quarterback. The sophomore completed 18-of-36 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Duncan caught seven passes for 57 yards and one touchdown, while Borgeson caught a pair of passes for 40 yards and one touchdown. Nate Phillips added three catches for 32 yards. It was a long night rushing for Norwalk as Hall eluded to, with the Truckers picking up just 54 net yards rushing. Ringle paced the ground attack with 18 attempts for 49 yards.

It will get no easier for Norwalk, however, as a trip to Huron looms next Friday. The Tigers scored 31 points in the first quarter of their win over Vermilion, and the Truckers will be looking for their first win over Huron since the 1988 season.