PHOTOS: Tustin dominates Foothill in annual rivalry game before a huge crowd

Tustin wide receiver Jeremiah Salvant hauls in a late second quarter touchdown catch as Foothill’s safety Ben Mason defends Friday night. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

The anticipation was spirited Friday evening as a near capacity crowd greeted crosstown rivals Tustin and Foothill football teams as they took the field for their annual matchup.

However, the Tillers (2-0) dominated on both sides of the ball and cruised to a 44-0 non-league victory. It was the third consecutive season Tustin has defeated Foothill and retained the coveted Gauntlet Trophy.

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For the second consecutive week Tillers quarterback Ayden Edwards and wide receiver/kick returner Jeremiah Salvant had outstanding performances to lead the charge.

Edwards completed 21 passes for 244 yards, and two TD passes while Salvant electrified the crowd with a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown. He also had five receptions for 100 yards and caught a TD pass.

“We got together and aired it out tonight,” said Edwards, who also threw two TD passes in Tustin’s victory over San Clemente last week. “We had a couple of linemen down tonight, but the guys who filled in really stepped it up. We have a couple of tough games coming up, so we can’t afford to become complacent.”

After a Foothill three-and-out to start the game, the Tillers took over and marched 88 yards in 19 plays and chewed up over 10 minutes of the clock. Junior running back Jeremiah Williams capped the drive with a 1-yard TD run. Tustin added a two-point conversion and led 8-0. Edwards completed seven passes for 56 yards to lead the scoring drive.

Early in the second quarter, Salvant gave the Tillers a spark when he broke several tackles and returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown to up Tustin’s lead to 16-0 with 9:58 to play in the half. Last week Salvant returned a 98-yard kickoff for a TD against San Clemente.

“It starts with how hard we practice,” said Salvant who also caught five passes for 100 yards, including hauling in a 38-yard TD pass from Edwards with 17 seconds left in the half to propel Tustin to a 23-0 at intermission.    

Tustin’s defense, led by linebackers Tim Loane, Rufai Azeez, Taven Epps and defensive linemen Jeremiah Williams and Cooper Cook stifled the Knights offense in the first half holding the Knights to under 20 yards of offense.

Foothil’s best scoring opportunity came late in the third quarter; however, quarterback Jake Lind was stopped on a quarterback sneak on a fourth-down play.

Devon Benavente, Elijah Robinson, and Theo George Bell added touchdowns in the second half to complete the Tillers scoring.

“Our defense played lights out tonight; it may be the best defense we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Tustin Coach Anthony Lopez. “We had guys fill in on the offensive line and they did a great job. However, we had some penalties and it’s going to cost us if we don’t clean it up. We have Long Beach Poly and Damien coming up and we can’t afford so many penalties.”

Hayden Koo had a big game for Tustin as he caught eight passes for 80 yards.  

The Knights (0-2) are a young team and have no returning starters this season on offense.

“We are inexperienced, and a lot of these kids are playing under the lights for the first time,” said Foothill Coach Jason Jellerson. “We are better now than when we started but we must go back to the drawing board and work on the basics, tackling and blocking. The kids and the coaches are working hard, and we are going to continue to get better. I tip my cap to Tustin. They have a lot of talent over there.”

NOTES:

—-After Friday’s win, Tustin holds a 12-11 edge over Foothill over the last 23 games, dating back to 2004.

—Tustin head coach Anthony Lopez’s brother, Phil, is the Tillers tight ends and wide receivers’ coach.

—Knights first-year head coach Jason Jellerson served as an assistant coach under Doug Case for the last nine seasons. “Foothill and Tustin is a great rivalry,” said Jellerson. “I teach there, my kids went to school there and it’s an exciting rivalry. It’s great for the players, coaches, fans, and the community. It’s a special game.”

—-Foothill retired football coach Doug Case watched the action from the Knights’ sideline.