OCVarsity Kickoff ’15 preview: Tustin

Tustin's Alema Pilimai, a junior quarterback, is one of the top returning players in the Empire League.
Tustin senior Alema Pilimai is one of the top returning players in the Empire League. He was first team all-league in 2014.
Tustin senior Alema Pilimai will be a key player for the Tillers in 2015. He will start at quarterback and linebacker. He is considered one of the top linebackers in the county.
Tustin's Alema Pilimai, a senior, starts at quarterback and linebacker. He was first team all-league last season.
Tustin senior Alema Pilimai is a player to watch for in 2015. He has scholarship offers from Washington State, Oregon State, Utah, Utah State and BYU.
Tustin's Alema Pilimai, a senior quarterback and linebacker, is one of the top returning players in the Empire League. He has scholarship offers from Washington State, Oregon State, Utah, Utah State and BYU.

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By Kenny Connolly | kconnolly@scng.com | Orange County Register

August 25, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

OCVarsity preview for the 2015 season:

TUSTIN TILLERS

Coach: Winter Welz

Last season: 6-5 overall, 3-2 league

Scouting report: It is hard finding a chink in Tustin’s armor. The Tillers return eight starters on offense, including quarterback Alema Pilimai, who is surrounded by game-breakers in running back Derek Soto and receivers Jonathan DiMaio and Tyler Noble. A deep linebacking unit heads a defense that returns eight starters. Tustin struggled against elite offenses last season, allowing 41 and 39 points in its league losses to Cypress and Valencia. Scoring points won’t be a problem in the Tillers’ spread attack, but shootouts are never welcomed. If the defense plays to its potential, the Tillers can reclaim the league’s top spot for the first time since 2012.

Bottom line: Tustin enters the postseason as the league’s top representative and proves it’s more than capable of winning a few games in November.

Players to watch: Marwin Alapati, TE/DE, Jr.; Jonathan DiMaio, WR, Sr.; Tyler Noble, WR/CB, Sr.; Alema Pilimai, QB/LB, Sr.; Derek Soto, RB, Jr.

TUSTIN ROSTER

TUSTIN SCHEDULE

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com