Inspired Tustin Defeats Foothill, 21-6, for First Time in 14 Years

A wave of delight bordering on civic hysteria swept a crowd of 2,000 Tustin High School football fans Thursday night as the Tillers beat Foothill for the first time in 14 seasons, 21-6, at Northrup Field.

Tustin’s emotionally charged defense did not allow the previously undefeated Knights, ranked fourth in the county, to score a touchdown. On four occasions, Foothill stalled within the Tustin 12-yard line. The Knights (3-1) had to go home with two field goals by Scott Ball and a relatively modest 205 yards of total offense.

The last time Tustin won the golden gauntlet trophy symbolizing the city championship was in 1972, when a two-point conversion pass with 30 seconds left gave the Tillers an 8-7 victory at Mission Viejo, the only place big enough to hold a crowd of more than 5,000. Of course, that was before the Tillers’ current players were old enough to learn their zip code.

But it’s been a momentous week for Tustin. Last Thursday’s 10-7 win against Irvine marked the 200th career victory for Coach Marijon Ancich, who joined Tustin from St. Paul two seasons ago.

On Thursday, a wall of noise greeted Walter McMahon’s 87-yard kickoff return, which gave Tustin (3-1) the 21-6 advantage with two seconds left in the third quarter. The screaming didn’t let up until the game was long over, as if the Tiller faithful were reluctant to stop venting the frustrations of the past 14 years.

“We just feel great,” Ancich said. “We needed this. (Fourteen years) was too long for one guy to be on top.”

Tustin English teacher Hank Woods speculated in jest from the sideline that school would be canceled at Tustin today in honor of the event. But Principal Peggy Lynch, who admitted to being a “nervous wreck” during the fourth quarter, said no such city holiday will take place. “We have to hold school so we can all be together to celebrate,” she said.

Economics teacher Alayne Campbell, who has taught at Tustin since 1960, called Thursday one of the finest nights of her tenure at the school. “I almost retired this year,” she said, “but now I’m so glad that I didn’t. This is a wonderful evening, one we’ve been waiting for a long time.”

It was obvious that Foothill was struggling under the effects of Tustin’s fiery defense by halftime, when Tustin held a 7-3 advantage. The Knights had gained only 86 yards of total offense in the half to Tustin’s 139.

The key series came late in the second quarter when the Tillers contained Knight tailback John Fischbeck, the seventh-ranked rusher in the county, for four downs within the 15-yard line. Fischbeck’s last attempt, a pass reception on fourth-and-six, gained just three yards and the Tiller offense took over on its own eight-yard line with dramatic results.

On Tustin’s second play, quarterback George Menges completed a pass to Scott Pulaski for an 84-yard gain. Knight Greg Johnson tackled Pulaski on the eight-yard line, but on the next play tailback Lani Machado (23 carries for 81 yards) scored. Tim Kotlar’s kick gave Tustin a lead that was never relinquished.

Tustin drove 84 yards in the third quarter to score again on a 16-yard pass from Menges, who was 6 of 14 for 137 yards, to tight end Dave Patstone. McMahon’s kickoff return sealed the victory. Two second-half interceptions by Knight quarterback Chris Fergus (12 of 23 for 107 yards) killed any lingering comeback hopes on the Foothill side.

“This was a much bigger game for them than for us,” Knight Coach Ted Mullen said. “They were very emotional since they hadn’t won since 1972. They played well and deserved the win. This is a lesson in humility we needed. Fortunately, this isn’t the season.”