Tustin’s Nick Mierez charges into the end zone for a score Thursday night. (Photos by Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)
Tustin’s football team is back.
The Tillers put on their most impressive effort of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo.
Tustin rolled to a 45-7 Empire League victory over Pacifica Thursday night at Tustin to improve its league mark to 2-1.
“Everything went well,” said Tustin Coach Myron Miller. “The key to the game is that we caused a fumble after we fumbled. I think we were a little more physical than they thought we were. We lost a lot of players a while back in the middle of the season and it took us a few weeks to recover from it but now these kids have figured it out. We’re 2-1 in league with two more games, we go into a team which could make the playoffs which I’m really excited about.
“I think that saved our season tonight because Pacifica is a good team.”
While Tustin has abandoned its double-wing offense for a pro-style offense, the TIllers still proved they can run the ball well in a new system.
Nick Mierez rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns and Girard Bell rushed for 60 yards and three touchdowns. Matt Rodriguez rushed for 78 yards on 13 carries for Tustin (3-5 overall). The Tillers held a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Tustin forced four turnovers by Pacifica, which was without its starting quarterback Sean Blake, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury, according to Mariners’ coach Vinnie Lopez. He was replaced by senior Isaac Torres, who was intercepted twice.
The Mariners (4-4, 2-1) also fumbled the ball away twice.
“They didn’t have their quarterback tonight, but we played pretty good,” Miller said. “Our whole team played better.”
Pacifica wasn’t able to get much going on the ground either although Isaiah Blevins had an 70-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, which was played with a running clock. Blevins wound up with 156 yards rushing.
Chris Medina also hauled in a 4-yard TD pass from quarterback Mateo Vasquez and Miguel Ochoa had a 28-yard field goal for the Tillers.
But the star of the game was Nick Mierez, who besides contributing on offense, had an interception which set up up the Tillers last score of the first half. His twin brother Mike, also had an interception which led to a Tustin TD.
“I’m really glad we got this victory after the Valencia loss,” Nick Mierez said. “This week, I decided to push myself in practice and I wanted to prove to the team that I want to be the leader. I want to be the guy who carries them on my back. We feel pretty good, we’re ready to go to the playoffs. We’re trying to beat Cypress and Crean Lutheran so we have a chance to go to the playoffs.”
         STATS
PACÂ Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â 0Â Â 7Â Â –Â Â 7
TUSÂ Â Â Â 7Â Â 28Â Â 7Â Â 3Â Â –Â Â 45
RUSHING: Pac Blevins 16-156; Tus N. Mierez 9-82; Rodriguez 13-78, Bell 5-60.
PASSING: Pac Torres 2-5-2, 4 yards; Tus Vasquez 3-6-0, 10 yards.
RECEIVING: Pac Leonard 2-4; Tus Medina 1-4, M. Mierez 1-3, Bell 1-3.
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone: timburt@ocsportszone.com
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