TUSTIN No one was happier to see Tustin quarterback Alema Pilimai back under center Thursday night than his go-to receiver, George Wilson.
Pilimai had missed the Tillers’ past two games because of a cracked rib. He had watched from the sideline as they suffered back-to-back losses to close out their nonleague schedule.
With their signal caller back in action Thursday, the Tillers looked plenty rejuvenated, blowing out Western, 61-7, in the Empire League opener at Tustin High.
“I feel we’re a much better team when Alema Pilimai is our quarterback,” Wilson said after the game.
With Pilimai sidelined, it was Wilson who was thrust under center. The Utah commit happily returned to his natural position, at wideout, and made up for lost time.
Wilson hauled in two first-half touchdown passes and finished with four grabs for 100 yards.
“The nice thing about George is that he’s the best athlete on the field,” Tustin coach Winter Welz said.
“Unless teams double (cover) him, the ball is going to him every time.”
Wilson’s 25- and 8-yard TD grabs came in the last 71 seconds of the first half, giving the Tillers (4-2, 1-0) a commanding 40-7 lead at the break.
After missing his first five throws, Pilimai capped his night by throwing for 177 yards and three touchdowns on a perfect 8-for-8 clip.
Junior transfer Tyler Noble was Tustin’s second leading receiver, grabbing two passes for 52 yards. The Woodbridge transfer also rushed for 37 yards in his debut for the Tillers.
Tustin’s special teams accounted for two first-half scores, a 60-yard kickoff return from Deon Faaseu and a 75-yard scoop-and-score by Kenny Phillips off a blocked field goal.
Western dropped its fifth straight game and is now 1-5. The Pioneers have been outscored, 131-10, the last two weeks.
Quarterback Nick Zarate rushed the ball 29 times for 24 yards. Twelve of those carries resulted in zero or negative yardage.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
