Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
Read more Dodgers waste late opportunities as failures in the clutch burn them again in NLCS finale
INGLEWOOD — An opportunity to play in a NFL stadium wasn’t the only allure for Tustin and Villa Park as they took the field at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.
The teams had a chance to gain ground in the Bravo League, a group being called by some football coaches the best public school league in Orange County from “top to bottom.”
And if that wasn’t enough motivation, the schools faced off for the first time since 2012.
Villa Park made the most of the occasion.
Coy Collins rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns and the Spartans’ defense recorded six sacks as Villa Park collected a 30-20 victory.
Wide receiver Ben Hanna added six receptions for 130 yards, and threw a touchdown on a trick play, in a breakout performance for Villa Park (7-1, 2-1), ranked No. 15 in Orange County.
Villa Park quarterback Jacob Titchenal passed for 200 yards.
“This is huge,” Villa Park coach Dusan Ancich said of the victory. “In our league, just to have a winning record is huge. Our league is good. To me, it’s like high school SEC for us. There’s no gimmies. Everybody hits. Everybody is talented. Everybody has scholarship kids.”
Villa Park’s defense helped seal the victory by sacking Ayden Edwards on fourth-and-long from near midfield with about three minutes left in the fourth quarter to protect a 30-20 lead.
The Spartans’ front of linemen and linebackers included Maverick DeClark, Parker Johns, George Martian, Turner Hughes, Elijah Dean and Carsten Rasmussen.
Hughes, a defensive tackle, said playing on the same turf used by the Rams’ Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald served as motivation. “It was amazing experience,” Hughes said.
After the sack, a skirmish broke out that led to a player from each team being ejected, the coaches said. Earlier in the game, No. 14 Tustin (4-4, 0-3) had another player ejected.
Tustin is now aiming to win at least one more game to help its chances of receiving an at-large berth for the playoffs, Tillers coach Anthony Lopez said.
“We’re running out of linemen,” said Lopez, whose team lost standout lineman Jon Ioane to a season-ending injury in its opener. “We got to regroup.”
Collins broke tackles and pushed the pile for an 11-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter as Villa Park took a 23-13 lead.
Read more Alexander: The Dodgers’ reign is over … so what comes next?
The junior scored after a diving interception by Villa Park outside linebacker Ethan Hedrick at his 15 wiped out a promising drive by Tustin.
Collins overcame injuries to log 26 carries.
“I’m not going to lie, the turf hurt … but we made it happen,” Collins said. “My linemen blocked for me.”
Tustin responded with a 5-yard touchdown run from Hayden Koo from the Wildcat to trim Vila Park’s lead to 23-20 early in the fourth.
But on its next drive, Villa Park drove for a 2-yard TD run by Collins. Hanna sparked the drive with a reception on third down and by drawing a pass interference penalty.
Villa Park led 16-13 at halftime but Tustin gained momentum with just under five minutes left in the second quarter.
Coming out a timeout, Edwards threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Koo on third down to trim the Spartans’ lead to 16-6.
The PAT failed but the first TD connection between Edwards and Koo this season sparked the Tillers. The quarterback has dealt with injury and Koo shifted to quarterback at times.
Villa Park started fast by recovering a fumble at the Tustin 30 on the first play from scrimmage.
On the next play, a double pass sprung Hedrick for a 30-yard touchdown reception from Hanna.
Tustin’s defense delivered its own big play later in the first quarter. Colorado State commit Jeremiah Salvant returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown as the Tillers tied the score 7-7.
Villa Park regained the lead early in the second quarter on a safety and added a 3-yard touchdown run by Collins.
Next week on Thursday, Oct. 22, Tustin plays at No. 19 La Habra. On Friday, Oct. 23, Villa Park travels to No. 11 Capistrano Valley.
Read more Horse racing: ‘World class’ Jamie Spencer riding at Santa Anita, Del Mar