TUSTIN – Clinging to a two-point halftime lead and with its starting quarterback sick to his stomach, Tustin looked in danger of losing their grip on the final playoff spot in the Empire League.
Alema Pilimai shook off the illness after missing a series and scored a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter that proved to be the difference in Tustin’s 19-17 win over Kennedy on Saturday afternoon.
“We realized that if we lose this game were done, and none of us wanted the season to end,” Pilimai said.
Pilimai rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 91 yards.
Tustin Coach Winter Welz felt jubilant at making the postseason.
“It’s great, especially after the season we had last year,” he said. “All were trying to do here is getting better every week, and that’s all we can do.”
Welz also praised his squad for its resilient nature, especially when the Tiller defense came up with a key stop late in the fourth quarter, after Kennedy’s Joey Ortega scored a touchdown with 7:19 left in the game.
With the loss, the Fighting Irish (5-5, 2-3) have a very slim chance at nabbing an at-large bid for the postseason, but their fate is in the hands of the selection committee.
Tustin (6-4, 3-2) opened the scoring when a pass intended for Tyler Noble was picked off by Armando Palacios. Palacios fumbled the ball on the return and an alert George Wilson scooped up the loose ball and raced to the end zone for the 38-yard score.
Trailing 12-3, Kennedy would respond before halftime when T.J. Williams scored a 7-yard TD capping a 13-play drive that lasted over six minutes. The Fighting Irish were able to control the ball for the majority of the half racking up nine first downs.
Things took a turn for the worse for Tustin on their first drive of the third quarter, Pilimai became ill at halftime and backup Joey Maduena lost a fumble on the Tillers first play. Despite the short field, Tustin would block a field goal attempt by Kennedy as the Tillers nursed a 12-10 lead.
