Tustin defense rules the airwaves

TUSTIN - The offense started fast for Tustin in Thursday's Century League opener against visiting Canyon.

The defense applied the finishing touches.

The Tillers (5-1, 1-0) intercepted five Beau Perry passes, four in the second half, in a 34-8 victory over the Comanches (2-4, 0-1).

Tustin opened the game with touchdowns on its first three possessions.

"We got on them early on offense," Tustin coach Myron Miller said. "But the defense stepped up and played great. We're playing pretty good defense this year."

Tustin has allowed just 11 points in winning its past three games since a loss to Orange Lutheran on Sept. 18.

"The offense and the defense are the same guys, but I'm proud of the plays we made on defense," Miller said. "I don't think we've had five interceptions since I've been here."

The defensive performance came at the perfect time because the Tustin offense had its troubles at the outset of the second half.

The Tillers led 20-6 at halftime.

Canyon forced a fumble on the first play of the second half, taking over on the Tillers 20. However, Tustin defensive back Avery Lynch stopped the Canyon threat with an interception in the end zone.

Lynch came up with another interception later in the quarter.

Tustin cashed in Lynch's second interception on fullback Wade Minshew's 16-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Later in the quarter, linebacker Dominic Coulter capped the evening with a 12-yard interception return for a touchdown.

"We came out in the second half and played awesome defense and we had five stops," Canyon coach Brent McKee said. "We gave our offense three or four chances to cut into the lead, but we couldn't do it.

"You have to credit their defense. They have a very good defense this year."

Anthony Wilkerson opened the game with a 52-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Nick DiMaio. He also scored on runs of 29 and 9 yards to give the Tillers a 20-0 lead. Wilkerson, who entered the week as the county's leading rusher with 1,038 yards, rushed for 142 on 22 carries.

Canyon scored its first points when running back Kyle Rodriguez capped a 17-play, 69-yard drive with a 1-yard run as the second quarter ended.

The Tillers played the second half without junior defensive lineman Faitele Faafoi, who sat out with a knee injury.