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MISSION VIEJO — Before The Play unfolded for Edison’s football team in the CIF State championship, middle linebacker Matt Lopez made the defensive play to set the stage for the dramatic finish Saturday.

The senior broke up a fourth-and-7 pass from the Chargers 32 with 52 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the score tied at Saddleback College.

Jake Minter seized the spotlight with a game-winning 54-yard touchdown reception seconds later but Lopez’s play loomed significant as Edison celebrated a 21-14 victory against Central of Fresno in the Division 1-A final.

Edison’s Jake Minter (17) revels with teammates after the CIF State Division 1-A championship game between Edison High and Fresno Central High at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday Dec. 14, 2024…..(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

“Everyone is going to remember Wildman defense, I’ll tell you that,” said Lopez, referring to the nickname of the Chargers’ defense. “That play was in God’s hands. All of us did our job. I was thankful for the ball to come my way. I trusted myself to dive out for that.”

Lopez picked up Central star running back Brandon Smith in man coverage as the junior motioned out of the backfield on the fourth-down attempt. Lopez then stretched from behind Smith to break up a short pass over the middle.

“Just staying composed,” Lopez said of the breakup. “Not over doing it and not over running it. Just treat each play like it’s your lass.”

It was a fitting ending for Lopez. One of Edison’s four captains, he entered the state final as Edison’s leading tackler.

Lopez (5-9 185) added seven more tackles on Saturday to share the team-lead with Minter. Lopez also broke up a pass on fourth down from the Edison 23 in the middle of the third quarter.

“He’s come so far in two years,” Edison defensive coordinator Troy Thomas said of Lopez, a two-year starter. “I’m so proud of him. And the other one, Jeremiah Ross, (too). You look at them, they don’t look like much (in terms of size) but they’re super smart.

“They took to coaching. Our linebacker coach Earnie Sagiao (Jr.) … does a great job,” Thomas added. “He did a great job with Hoi (Hansen) and he did a great job with these two guys.”

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