California high school championship team's sprint to the finish filled with blood, sweat and push from above

Edison heroes inspired by the life, death of own personal heroes lead to Edison's thrilling last-minute victory in CIF D1-A title game

Edison star players Jake Minter (left) and Julius Gillick speak on live television after the victory ceremony of the Chargers' 21-14 victory of Central in Saturday's CIF Division 1-A title game at Saddleback College. / Photo: David Dennis

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA — A last-minute game-winning touchdown often inspires endless superlatives.

Spectacular. Remarkable. And, everyone's favorite — unbelievable.

Edison of Huntington Beach senior Julius Gillick was searching for just the right term to describe his pal Jake Minter's 54-yard catch-and-run with 20 seconds left to claim Saturday's CIF State Division 1-A championship game 21-14 over Central of Fresno at Saddleback College.

Edison sophomore quarterback Sam Thomson completed 12 of 17 for 155 yards and. a touchdown versus Central of Fresno. / Photo: David Dennis

His eyes were bloodshot while searching. His emotions were raw, his body drained. His attention was pointed upward.

Getting to the finish line of a 16-week championship season takes more than just a big dosage of intestinal fortitude.

It takes something both deeper and loftier.

"It was a beautiful thing," he kept repeating.

Gillick, who entered the game as Edison's single-season record holder with 2,365 yards, had already described the victory itself as "beautiful," considering the Chargers (12-4) started the season 0-2 and at midseason sustained another two-game skid to seemingly end any hopes of a special season.

But the Chargers ended on a six-game win streak, overcoming a rash of injuries, persevering over one personal and collective calamity after another to win the school's first regional and state titles.

"It's been two years worth of blood and sweat on this team and they've been giving it, you know, right back to me," Gillick said. "And I've never been more proud of a group of dudes, you know?"

How did he and the team make it through?

"I'm gonna need some Ibuprofen to say the least," he said with a laugh. "I've been pretty banged up, you know, I have been for a while. But it's nothing because my brothers got my back, so I can't quit on them. I never have. I never will. That's not who I am as a human being. That's not what this program is about. We're some fighters. We're some people who get stuff done.

"All my linemen are banged up. I'm banged up. Our receivers are banged up, but Edison doesn't quit.

"Never have and never will."

To get to the finish line and endure the physical and mental collisions of a season, these Chargers needed an extra boost, a spiritual lift, a powerful push from the ethers.

Gillick's story was told the previous week to Orange County Register reporter Dan Albano, how his season was dedicated to childhood friend Amarr Murphy-Paine, who was slain on June 6 outside of Garfield High School in Seattle.

Central's Bayon Harris had 3 catches and 42 yards and a touchdown on Saturday / Photo: David Dennis

Garfield is where Gillick, a fast and physical 6-foot, 210-pound back, grew up and attended his freshman and sophomore seasons before transferring to Southern California. The family picked Edison out of a hat of numerous Orange County schools.

He felt an immediate connection to coach Jeff Grady.

"He's a great dude and was from the start," Gillick said. "I had a good sense I'm going to come here and we're going to win, we're going to win a championship, and that's what we did."

At the start of the season he changed his number 18 to No. 9, the same his late friend wore. He also stayed in close contact with Murphy-Paine's brother and father, who Saturday flew down from Seattle to watch the championship game.

After scoring his team's first two touchdowns, on runs of 1 and 14 yards, numbers 36 and 37 on the season, Gillick signaled to Murphy-Paine's dad in the stands.

Edison senior Julius Gillick (9) breaks tackle on way to a 14-yard second-quarter touchdown run in terrific first half against Fresno Central in CIF Division 1-A championship game at Saddleback College. / Photo: Todd Shurtleff

Asked what he thought Murphy-Paine from "up above" was thinking while watching his friend rejoice as a champion, Gillick said: "He's not watching down on me. He was in my body, you know, he was in my spirit. He gave me all the strength tonight."

Minter said he also drew from a greater power, explaining his extraordinary final touchdown along with a team-high seven tackles from his safety spot.

Fighting back tears since since crossing the goal line, Minter had dedicated his season to his grandfather Phil Keathley, who also passed over the summer. Keathley, whom Minter called "Pape," was a a huge influence in his grandson's life and a big reason why he chose to go to Edison.

"I mean, I'm doing everything for him because he did everything for me," Minter said.

Jeff Grady holds up his team's championship trophy aftr a 21-14 victory of Cenral of Fresno. / Photo: David Dennis

So when he hauled in a perfectly placed 15-yard crossing rout from Sam Thompson at the Central 40, Minter said he had only one thing in mind after juking one defender.

"After I made the first guy miss and I'm out in space, all I was thinking about was scoring.," Minter said. "I didn't want any chance or give them any chance at winning."

Following a block from Ayden DeGiacomo, Minter tore around and up the Edison sideline, before making a huge dive for the pylon, which he cleared by 10 feet. It was the first game-winning touchdown of his life.

Gillick got choked up just thinking about the run, which set off a massive celebration at Saddleback College.

"I mean, he's a dog but that was something very, very special, you know?" Gillick said. "I mean, he caught the dig across the middle and I was on the same side but underneath him, a level behind. He makes one move and I knew 50 yards out Jake was getting in."

Gillick thought about the moment and had to gather himself once again.

"Jake Minter is a special type of dude, and wherever he ends up he's gonna kill it," he said. "That was one of the most miraculous plays I've ever seen in my life."

Miraculous, maybe.

Inspired, for certain.

"Again, that was a beautiful thing," he said.