TUSTIN – Tustin running backs KC Carr and Zech Savage scored a combined seven first-half touchdowns on 10 collective carries as the Tillers bounced back from their first league loss with a 55-6 blowout victory over Western on Thursday night in an Empire League game at Tustin High.
The Tillers (8-2, 4-1) guaranteed themselves at least a share of the Empire League title with the win and qualified for the Division 7 playoffs. Tustin will claim the league championship outright if Cypress (6-3, 2-2) can knock off Valencia (3-6, 3-1) on Friday in the regular-season finale for both squads.
“Valencia matched up well with us and exposed some weaknesses we had that we’ll have fixed by the time we get to the playoffs,” Tillers coach Myron Miler said, referencing last week’s loss to the Tigers. “It’s never fun to take a loss, but you learn more from losses than you ever do when you win.”
Behind its dynamic duo in the backfield, the Tillers stormed out of the gate, scoring three touchdowns on their first eight offensive snaps of the game.
Carr scored on carries of 69, 61 and 10 yards in the first quarter, and added touchdown runs of 12 and 14 yards in the second. The junior tailback only carried the ball seven times on Thursday, but racked up 201 yards and five touchdowns in one half of work.
Savage finished the evening with 179 yards on seven carries. He added a pair of 60-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter that put Tustin ahead, 48-0, by halftime.
Tustin racked up a total of 529 yards rushing on 35 carries.
“We’re making progress,” Miller said. “And that’s all I can ask the kids. Make progress everyday, every week.”
Western finished the season at 2-7-1 overall, dropping five straight league games to end the year.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@scng.com
