TUSTIN — The Tustin football team wasn’t flawless on offense in its nonleague game against Damien on Thursday night at Tustin High School.
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But thanks to the performance on the defensive side of the ball, the Tillers didn’t need a perfect showing on offense.
Three touchdowns were more than enough for the Tillers in a 21-10 victory over the Spartans.
After giving up a touchdown on the game’s first drive, Tustin’s defense locked in and allowed only a fourth-quarter field goal the rest of the game.
With one more nonleague game remaining, the Tillers are 3-1 as they get ready for a Bravo League loaded with talented teams.
“Our defense has kept us in every game this year, and we are 3-1 because of them,” Tustin coach Anthony Lopez said. “Our defense is one of the best in the county in my opinion.”
Tustin had a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jerimiah Salvant nullified and a 53-yard touchdown pass called back, both due to holding penalties.
Hayden Koo, one of the county’s top receivers, played his second game in a row as the Tillers’ quarterback, stepping in for injured starter Ayden Edwards.
The tools that make Koo a talented receiver served the junior well from behind center.
The Spartans (2-2) had trouble stopping Koo, who rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
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Koo was elusive on runs to the outside but was also able to gain tough yards on runs up the middle.
“It feels comfortable for sure, just getting the ball in my hands,” Koo said. “Just like any type of receiver on a screen or anything. I play as a more physical receiver, just kind of getting those (yards after the catch). I really like putting my head down. I love the contact.”
Koo’s 32-yard touchdown run gave the Tillers a 14-7 lead in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans drove inside the red zone but were stopped on a third-and-17 play and had to settle for a 25-yard field goal.
Tustin forced Damien to punt later in the fourth and then scored the game-clinching touchdown on a 3-yard run from Steele Holcomb to take a 21-10 lead with under three minutes remaining.
The score was set up by a 35-yard run on a third-and-3 play from Jeremiah Williams, who is also one of the top defensive tackles in the county.
With two starting defenders sidelined with injuries, Williams said he was proud of the way the defense stepped up.
“Even with those missing parts, we fought through adversity,” Williams said. “Over the summer, everybody took everything serious.”
The Spartans took a quick 7-0 lead on a 24-yard run from Adrian Martinez on the game’s opening drive.
The Tillers tied the score later in the quarter with a 9-play, 81-yard drive, highlighted by Davyon Curtis’ 21-yard scoring run.
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