Edison Victory May Be Costly : Football: Charger quarterback injures his thumb in 19-7 triumph over Sonora.

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The Edison Chargers are halfway through what could be a fun season. The question is, will any players be around at the end to enjoy it?

The injury bug struck the Chargers again Thursday, during their 19-7 victory over Sonora before an estimated 1,600 at Huntington Beach High. Starting quarterback Jeff Grady may have dislocated his thumb while throwing a pass in the first quarter. He will be re-examined today.

Fortunately for Edison, 4-1 entering its Sunset League opener against Los Alamitos next week, the Chargers didn’t need an arm, just the legs of halfback Alex Forero, who churned out 166 yards and two touchdowns in 32 carries. Fullback Brodie Riederich added 81 yards and the clinching touchdown on a three-yard run with 3:05 to play.

Sonora, 3-2 after its second consecutive loss, got its only score in the third quarter on a one-yard sneak by senior quarterback Kevin Rodriguez. Otherwise it was a tough night for Rodriguez; he passed for 113 yards, but 74 of them came on one pass play to Shawn Brass. He ended up with minus-45 yards rushing after being sacked four times.

Before the game, Coach Mark Takkinen--who missed a couple of practices because his wife Dee Ann gave birth to their fourth child Monday--and staff decided to move fullback Mike Hamabe to a halfback and mix him into the offense with Brass and Sam Escobar.

But Escobar, who had already rushed for 52 yards in four carries, was idled toward the end of the first quarter by a sprained right ankle.

Edison Coach Dave White could empathize. His team came into the game more banged up than an “ER” extra.

The Chargers were already without their best receiver, David Fleischmanwho was injured the season opener and is sidelined for the season. Hobbling along the sideline on crutches and casts were sophomores Brian Walters and Trevor Whitworth.

Then there were the almost healthy. Riederich’s various hurts don’t allow him to practice, only play. Safety Andrew Bergsetter had 11 stitches removed from a cut in his left hand only three hours before the game. And linebacker Tate Tunstall was nursing a sore neck injured while playing some neighborhood football on Sunday.