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Edison wanted to bring the energy.
And from the moment they stepped inside Wayne Schneider Stadium, they had a rather unconventional way of making sure everyone knew it.
Every player was shirtless.
Even coach Eric Crocker couldn’t quite explain the connection between bare chests and energy.
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Whatever the reasoning, it clearly worked.
Edison (5-1) stunned previously unbeaten Tracy (5-1), a top-65 team in California according to MaxPreps, with a 21-14 road victory Friday, Oct. 9, to open Tri-City Athletic League play.
“These guys continue to be super resilient,” Crocker said. “We’ve had a lot of things not go our way, but I love how they respond. They might even be more calm and composed than me. I’m learning from them just as much as they’re learning from me.”
Edion’s Alonzo Ward III catches a touchdown pass during the varsity football game between the Tracy Bulldogs and Edison Vikings at Tracy High, Oct. 9, 2026. Edison defeated Tracy 21-14.
Few setbacks were bigger than being without three-star receiver Alonzo Ward, who has six Division I offers, for three of five nonleague games.
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He made up for lost time with three catches for 95 yards and three touchdowns.
“We always talk about him,” Crocker said. “He’s two touchdowns off the bus, no matter who we’re playing. We missed that. Against Marin Catholic, we put up 31, but we think with Zo, we get 45.”
Behind those catches was sophomore quarterback Ayden McClendon, who finished 9-of-20 passing for 168 yards and a touchdown.
“One of the biggest wins and games of the year,” McClendon said. “A lot of people showed up, and knowing we have each other’s backs is a great feeling. Everybody’s playing for each other.”
Edison quarterback Ayden McClendon throws the ball away during the varsity football game between the Tracy Bulldogs and Edison Vikings at Tracy High, Oct. 9, 2026. Edison defeated Tracy 21-14.
All 11 on defense had his back, all right.
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Tracy entered averaging 47.4 points per game. Edison held it well below that mark.
It didn’t help that the Bulldogs lost running back David Grisham to a second-quarter knee injury. He had entered with 631 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
“First and foremost, our defense executed well,” Ward said. “We started a little rocky on offense, but we found our rhythm and figured out what we could do. It’s all thanks to our defense, though.”
‘Good job responding’
Tracy Bulldog’s Maddix Severson runs the ball after catching a 54 yard pass during the varsity football game between the Tracy Bulldogs and Edison Vikings at Tracy High, Oct. 9, 2026. Edison defeated Tracy 21-14.
A combined 431 points through five games apiece.
That alone suggested Tracy and Edison were headed for a shootout.
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Throw in Edison’s 2,355 total yards, including 1,701 passing, and Tracy’s 1,874, and the case only got stronger.
Instead, defense took center stage.
“Tracy does a great job of keeping a lot of stuff in front of them,” Crocker said. “We knew coming in we weren’t going to have many vertical shots, but our guys did a really good job responding.”
Edison head coach Eric Crocker speaks with Edison players after their victory over Tracy during the varsity football game at Tracy High, Oct. 9, 2026. Edison defeated Tracy 21-14.
The first quarter was a feeling-out process.
Tracy fumbled on its opening possession. Edison was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line. Tracy then came up short on fourth down.
“The defense gives us so much more freedom,” McClendon said. “We’re not afraid to push the ball. We’re not afraid to go for explosive plays.”
Tracy quarterback Brady Brownduring looks for a pass during the varsity football game between the Tracy Bulldogs and Edison Vikings at Tracy High, Oct. 9, 2026. Edison defeated Tracy 21-14.
The second quarter offered a perfect example.
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On second-and-25, McClendon connected with Ward on a screen pass, and the receiver took it 36 yards for a touchdown.
Tracy had an explosive answer of its own, though. Brown, who completed 5 of 10 passes for 100 yards, found Severson 42 yards downfield before finishing the drive himself with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Brown added 61 yards on the ground.
From there, both defenses held firm, sending Edison into halftime with a 7-6 lead.
“Most of our practice is focused on the mental side of the game,” Crocker said. “I won’t give too much away, but we put a lot into that. And it shows in the way our guys execute defensively.”
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‘Wow’
Edion’s Alonzo Ward III catches a touchdown pass during the varsity football game between the Tracy Bulldogs and Edison Vikings at Tracy High, Oct. 9, 2026. Edison defeated Tracy 21-14.
Winning was the only thing on Ward’s mind.
Three games on the sideline had left him frustrated and hungry to get back out there.
Every rep mattered. Every play mattered. And when it came to the final score, Ward wanted to win that, too.
“My mentality was going 1-0,” Ward said. “So I was thinking, we have to win today. I have to win every rep. When the ball comes to me, I have to win.”
Then came Ward’s chance.
On third-and-25 from the 37-yard line early in the third quarter, he rose above two defenders and hauled in a touchdown pass to give Edison a 14-6 lead.
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The crowd was left stunned. Even the referee could only muster one word.
“Wow.”
Edison’s Alonzo Ward III celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the varsity football game between the Tracy Bulldogs and Edison Vikings at Tracy High, Oct. 9, 2026. Edison defeated Tracy 21-14.
He wasn’t finished.
After the defense forced another fumble, he came across the field from left to right on a play-action pass, making yet another leaping touchdown grab to push Edison’s advantage to 21-6.
Tracy answered right back, though. A penalty and a big punt return put the Bulldogs at Edison’s 30-yard line, where TJ Fonua scored to cut the deficit to 21-14.
But by then, Edison’s defense had already made its mark.
The Vikings allowed 100 passing yards and 155 rushing yards through three quarters but surrendered just 26 rushing yards and one first down in the fourth.
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“Expect a lot from us the rest of the way,” Ward said. “We put on a movie every time we play. Like I said, we’re trying to go 1-0 every week. That’s the goal.”
This article originally appeared on The Record: Edison football ends Tracy’s perfect start with upset in TCAL opener
