Tustin grinds out victory over Villa Park

ORANGE - It was just the kind of game Tustin needed.

Not only did the 35-20 victory Thursday over Villa Park keep Tillers in first place with a 2-0 record in the Century League, but it also made them have to play competitive football for four quarters.

"We had to grind it out, and I'm glad," said Tustin coach Myron Miller after the Century League game at El Modena High. "This is the first time all season we had to go four quarters and that's good for us. We got blown out by Orange Lutheran (46-20), and the other games we won easy.

"This makes me confident about how we can play in the fourth quarter when we play El Dorado and the next time it happens after that."

Tustin, 6-1 overall, is tied for first in the Century League with El Dorado, which also improved to 2-0 in league after beating Brea Olinda on Thursday. The Tillers play El Dorado in two weeks.

Orange County leading rusher Anthony Wilkerson rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. He scored on runs of 59 and 6 yards. He also leads the county in touchdowns, with 22.

On a Tustin scoring drive that started with 5:20 left in the third quarter and spilled over to the fourth, Wilkerson carried on 10 of the drive's 11 plays and finished it with the 6-yard touchdown run that gave the Tillers a comfortable 28-7 lead.

Wilkerson had nine carries in the fourth quarter, for 57 yards. Tustin's offensive line of Scott Hungerford, Jovanny Melendez, Lopeti Tuipulotu and Manny Villa, and tight ends Denzale Stewart and Lorenzo Faleafaga, opened up plenty of holes for Wilkerson.

"It's a good thing for us we've got an offensive line that is ready to bang, and a running back who makes some great runs when the game is on the line," Miller said.

Villa Park (5-2 overall) fell into a big hole early Thursday. A bad snap on a punting situation was picked up by the Villa Park punter near the goal line, Tustin's A.J. Rafter jarred the ball loose and Dominic Coulter pounced on it for a touchdown and a 7-0 Tustin lead just 1:34 into the game.

Villa Park then fumbled the ball away on its next play from scrimmage, and Tustin quickly took advantage with Jermaine Hill scoring on a 2-yard run. It was 14-0, Tustin, with 8:13 left in the first quarter.

"You can't give up 14 points just a couple of minutes into the game, "Villa Park coach Dusan Ancich said.

Villa Park scored with 1:21 left in the quarter on a 23-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Blair Boyce to tight end Clay Scarborough to make it 14-7. Boyce and Scarborough would connect twice more on TDs.

Wilkerson pushed the lead to 21-7 on his 59-yard run, on which he took a pitchout to the left before breaking a couple of tackles and a great fake got him to the end zone.

His 6-yard run made it 28-7, and then Boyce and Scarborough hooked up on a 78-yard touchdown pass play to trim the Tustin lead to 28-14.

Tustin recovered an onside kick after that, and drove quickly down field before Rafter scored on a 4-yard run for a 35-14 lead. Villa Park scored on a 5-yard Boyce-to-Scarborough pass to create the final 35-20 score.

Rafter, who also had an interception, his fourth of the season, credited Villa Park's effort.

"Those guys all did their jobs," Rafter said. "They're very well coached, and they have a very good defense."

Miller, too, praised Villa Park.

"Ancich has done a great job there," Miller said. "They're going to be a tough team for anyone to beat."

Boyce finished with 232 yards passing. He was 12 for 25, with two interceptions. Scarborough had four receptions for 124 yards.

Tustin plays a home game next Friday against El Modena. Villa Park plays El Dorado in an away game next Friday at Valencia High.