ALISO VIEJO – Tustin continued its recent resurgence with a 51-35 victory over Aliso Niguel on Friday night at Aliso Niguel High.
The Tillers ended the third quarter with a 21-point onslaught in a 40-second span which turned a four-point deficit into a 17-point lead that it didn’t relinquished.
Tustin (3-0) leaned on its defense in the second half as Elijah Asiata, Richard Lujan and Jshoun Wolfe all collected second-half interceptions that allowed the Tillers to stay unbeaten this season despite a less than stellar first half.
Tustin’s George Wilson caught seven passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns as he continued he ascent as Alema Pilimai’s favorite target.
Remy Wasserbach was the catalyst early on for the Wolverines and he finished the game with 147 receiving yards.
Quarterback Nick Chapman threw for 271 yards and tossed three TD’s while running for two more.
Aliso Niguel (1-2) attempted to mount a late comeback of its own as it faced a 25-point hole early in the fourth quarter. Touchdown catches by Ian Robertson and Jake Watkins cut the Tustin lead to 45-35 but the Wolverines could get no closer.
Wilson scored once more to put the game out of reach when Pilimai hit him on a slant for a 11-yard TD.
Facing fourth down on their own 45, a gamble by Coach Winter Welz paid off in the form of a 55-yard TD from Asiata to Wilson.
Wilson had slipped behind the defense and raced in for the touchdown that put Tustin ahead, 7-6.
That play was one of the only bright spots for the Tillers early on as their miscues and penalties derailed multiple drives in the first half.
The Wolverines capitalized on those mistakes to collect a 13-10 halftime advantage.
