TUSTIN – San Gorgonio staved off a third-quarter rally by Tustin to capture a 41-18 victory over the Tillers in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs Friday night at Tustin.
San Gorgonio (9-3) moves to the semifinals next week against Golden Valley on the road. Golden Valley won the coin flip to host the game.
San Gorgonio last made it to the semifinal round of the CIF playoffs in 2013. Tustin (9-3) was trying to advance to the semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
“It’s a traditional tough matchup when we play physical football teams,” San Gorgonio coach Ron Gueringer said. “I can’t tell you how happy I am with my defense tonight.
“That’s a great Tustin team; they’re physical, they’re athletic and we lined up and played toe to toe with them. We had some adversity for a little bit and we overcame that and I couldn’t be any prouder of my football team tonight.”
San Gorgonio was led offensively by quarterback Kaleb Hayes, who passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns.
Wide receiver Tyreque Jones hauled in seven catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns, and running back Dezhon Williams rushed for three touchdowns, including a 5-yard run with 2:56 left in the game. He rushed for 79 yards.
KC Carr carried the Tustin offense, rushing for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Derek Soto, in his first game back for the Tillers after an early season injury, rushed for 74 yards.
San Gorgonio held a 27-6 lead at halftime.
But Tustin got back into the game when Carr scored on touchdown runs of 63 and 1 yards in the third quarter to cut the gap to 27-18. Tustin was unable to convert on both 2-point attempts.
San Gorgonio broke the game open when Hayes connected with Jones on a 23-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-18 with 5:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Carr scored from 9 yards out with 1 minute left in the first half to keep the Tillers within striking distance.
San Gorgonio scored on its first possession of the game. After taking over on its own 30 yard line, the Spartans marched down the field and took a 7-0 lead when Williams ran for a 29-yard touchdown with 9:15 left in the first quarter.
Tustin then fumbled on its next possession and San Gorgonio capitalized after recovering on the Tillers 40-yard line.
On the next play from scrimmage, Williams ran 40 yards for a score to put San Gorgonio ahead, 13-0, with 8:16 left in the first quarter.
Contact the writer: tiburt@scng.com
