Sea View League : Tustin Defeats Newport : New and Improved Tillers Keep Cool in Comeback Victory

Had this been a Tustin High School football team of old, the Tillers probably would have fallen apart after fumbling away the second-half kickoff and blowing a lead to Newport Harbor in Friday night’s Sea View League opener.

But this year’s edition of the Tillers is different from those of the past. It is a team with backbone, with fortitude.

The Tillers came right back after their mistake and scored on their next two possessions to defeat the Sailors, 28-17, in front of 3,000 on Tustin’s Northrup Field.

“We’re beginning to show the character we need to survive,” Tustin Coach Marijon Ancich said. “It’s taken us a few frustrating years, but we’ve finally got ourselves on a straight keel now.”

Tim Hollinger scored three touchdowns, on runs of 3, 1 and 8 yards, but it was 5-foot 9-inch, 168-pound running back Lani Machado who did most of the damage. The junior rushed for 184 yards in 29 carries and caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the third period.

Tustin’s 14-10 halftime lead had evaporated when Aaron Cobb fumbled the kickoff and Scott Morency recovered for Newport Harbor at the Tiller 24-yard line. Five plays later, Sailor quarterback Kirk Summers threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Parks for a 17-14 lead.

But the Tillers (5-1) drove 80 yards in eight plays on the ensuing possession, and quarterback George Menges, on a third-down play, teamed with Machado for a 26-yard touchdown pass play to put Tustin back in front, 21-17.

Tustin added its final score early in the fourth quarter by driving 79 yards in 9 running plays, with Hollinger scoring from eight yards out with 10:25 remaining.

Hollinger scored on a three-yard run in the first quarter and a one-yard run in the second. Tustin gained 363 yards in total offense.

Newport Harbor’s first-half points came on Summers’ one-yard run and Sterling Coberly’s 27-yard field goal. The Sailors drop to 3-3.

In other action:

University 43, Estancia 20--It didn’t matter what kind of season the Trojans were having--there always was one constant.

University has had average teams, lousy teams and playoff-bound teams with one common problem--they couldn’t beat Estancia.

University finally ended that streak on Newport Harbor’s Davidson Field in the Sea View League opener for both.

Despite the victory, University Coach Mark Cunningham wasn’t celebrating much. Cunningham, a first-year coach, is unfamiliar with the Estancia domination. He didn’t know about the streak until Dick Roche, a former Trojan head coach, told him.

“I wasn’t sure about it,” Cunningham said. “According to an ex-coach (Roche), we had never beaten Estancia.

“We didn’t let down and I felt we were ready and hungry.”

It certainly showed in the first half as University (4-2) took a 27-0 lead. Running back Craig Belle, who finished with four touchdowns, scored three in the first half. He had runs of 1, 6 and 43 yards. The fourth touchdown came on a 72-yard pass reception from Jeff Bailey.

“Belle has had a real tough season,” Cunningham said. “He’s had problems with leg cramps, so he hasn’t been able to play past the fourth quarter.”

As it turned out, it didn’t matter. Belle finished with 109 yards rushing in 10 carries. He was complemented by David Liebke’s 130 yards rushing.

Estancia (0-6) averted the shutout with three second-half touchdowns. Quarterback Todd Brooks ran for one touchdown and passed for another.