Tustin has too many weapons for Canyon

ORANGE - Tustin’s three-headed monster on offense couldn’t be stopped in a 42-13 victory over Canyon on Friday at El Modena High.

In the first half, Ameer Webb carried the offensive load with 85 rushing yards and a 28-yard touchdown run that gave the Tillers the early lead, 7-0.

“We just wanted to come out and get some momentum early,” Webb said.

Anthony Wilkerson of Tustin (4-3, 2-0) also scored twice in the first half, but he accumulated 91 of his 137 rushing yards in the second half.

The Tillers knew that, in order to keep the Comanches defense from cheating against the run, they were going to have to connect on a few passes. It actually only took one, a 66-yard pass from Taylor Richardson to Wilkerson in the first quarter.

Richardson got into the offensive mix in the second half with three touchdown runs as well.

“It was another big game from our offensive line,” Richardson said. “They opened up big holes, and we grinding out yards time after time. They couldn’t stop us so we just kept going at them.”

Canyon (3-4, 1-1) was only able to stop Tustin’s offense from reaching the end zone once throughout the game.

“Our offense just kept beating on them until they finally started to wear down,” Tustin coach Myron Miller said. “The defense saddled up in the second half.”

The Tillers’ Webb and Wilkerson were equally as impressive on defense, both intercepted a pass and came through with key tackles. But the defensive star of the night was Chris Robinson, who had one sack and countless hurries.

“Every time they got hit, they started to give up a little bit,” Robinson said. “So we just kept going hard after them.”

The Comanches stayed close in the first half, 21-13, thanks to a pair of field goals from Colton Grandbouche and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Nick Mercurio to Marcio Marchena.

“At halftime, we were right were we wanted to be,” Canyon coach Brent McKee said. “But when they (Tustin ) play like that they are a different kind of animal and hard to beat.”

The  victory puts Tustin in the Century League driver’s seat with three games remaining and one big hurdle to overcome — El Dorado.

“We are still a team on the rise, and I’m happy with how things are going,” Miller said.

Contact the writer: acasas@ocregister.com