Tustin football knocks off Yorba Linda to get back on the winning track

YORBA LINDA – Tustin started the season with two wins, then lost its next two games.

The Tillers sorely needed a win Friday and they got it with a defense-led 21-7 victory over Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game at Yorba Linda High.

It was the final nonleague game for both teams and the first loss of the season for Yorba Linda.

Tustin (3-2) and Yorba Linda (4-1) do not play next week, a needed break before they start league play in two weeks.

Tustin sophomore quarterback Ayden Edwards threw two touchdown passes, to Hayden Koo and Taven Epps. Jeremiah Williams (6-2, 300) rumbled for the Tillers’ other touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Edwards was an efficient 19 of 24 for 205 yards passing. Eli Robinson carried the ball 14 times, all between the tackles, for 48 rugged yards. Koo had nine receptions for 65 yards and Jeremiah Salvant had seven receptions for 97 yards.

Tustin, ranked No. 12 in the Orange County Top 25, started the season 2-0 with wins over San Clemente 30-17 and Foothill 44-0. The Tillers then lost to Long Beach Poly 28-27 and Damien 24-7. Damien is the No. 1 team in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s area rankings.

Yorba Linda, No. 7 in the Orange County rankings, was averaging 32 points a game going into Friday’s game. The Mustangs found it difficult to get its offense going against Tustin’s fast and physical defense. Yorba Linda was held to 109 passing yards and 50 rushing yards.

Yorba Linda’s first two possessions ended with punts, the third was failed fourth down and its fifth and final possession of the first half was an interception by Tustin’s Khalil Terry, the second interception of the season for the junior safety who has offers from a long list of colleges including Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

Tustin scored on its first possession, a third-and-goal at the 1-yard line floater pass from Edwards to Koo in the right rear corner of the end zone. The point-after kick was blocked by Isaiah Trujillo, leaving the Tillers with a 6-0 lead which would be the halftime score.

Early in the third quarter Yorba Linda appeared to have lost a fumble, recovered by Terry, but the officials decided that an inadvertent whistle was blown on the play, and by rule that play had to start over. Yorba Linda would score on that possession on a 2-yard run by Gavin Smith to take a 7-6 lead.

Tustin came back with a 17-yard middle-screen touchdown pass from Edwards to Taven Epps, and an Edwards pass to Koo was good for two points and a 14-7 lead with 1:08 left in the third quarter.

Williams’ touchdown run with 3:26 to go in the game, and a Williams sack later, sealed the win for the Tillers.

Yorba Linda opens Bravo League play against Villa Park on Oct. 3 at El Modena High. Tustin plays its Delta League opener against Cypress at Western High on Oct. 2.