TUSTIN – After losing on a field goal in the final seconds in last season’s installment of The Rumble on El Camino Real, Tustin’s explosive offense made sure last year’s result did not repeat.
The Tillers scored touchdowns of 46, 67, 75 (twice) and 85 yards – with both 75-yarders and the 85-yarder coming within in a span of six minutes – to bust open the nonleague matchup and defeat Beckman, 46-10, at home Friday night.
The game did not appear to be headed for a blowout midway through the third quarter, but, Beckman, instead of scoring and cutting the Tillers’ lead to 21-17, fumbled a snap on the 1-yard line and Tustin recovered. The Tillers (4-1) then marched the 99 yards, thanks mostly to an 85-yard touchdown run by Tyler Noble, and the rout was on.
Tustin quarterback Sagel Simon was terrific, completing 8 of 12 passes for 209 yards and two scores. Simon, whose only passing attempt of the second half went for a 75-yard touchdown to Jonathon Di Maio, scored once on the ground as well. Di Maio was also on the receiving end of the game’s first score, a 46-yard pass play midway through the first quarter.
Beckman (2-2) kept it close early, answering Tustin’s first touchdown quickly when Patriots quarterback Dean Nagle found I’Jon Akahi for an 18-yard touchdown on a screen pass.
From there, save a 31-yard field goal by Jeremiah Carvalho, it was all Tillers.
Following the field goal, DeVon Anderson busted through the line for the first of his two long touchdown runs, this one for 67 yards. Anderson also scored on a 75-yard run in the third quarter to put the Tillers ahead, 33-10. Anderson finished with 175 yards on 10 carries.
An aggressive Tillers defense kept Nagle busy in the pocket, and forced several incomplete passes. Nagle finished the day going 12 for 23 for 136 yards and the one touchdown.
