PREP FOOTBALL : Sea View League : Tustin 17-Play Drive Tops Corona del Mar

Tustin High School’s methodical march to victory Friday night in LeBard Stadium stirred memories of football days gone by. Three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust stuff. About all that was missing was a quarterback with high-top cleats.

The Tillers moved 53 yards in--count ‘em--17 plays for the winning score in a 14-13, Sea View League victory over Corona del Mar. This wasn’t a touchdown drive. It was more of a touchdown plod. It took nearly seven minutes. It included three fourth-down conversions, counting Loni Machado’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:39 to play. Tim Kotlar’s conversion kick gave the Tillers their only lead of the game, but it was the one that mattered most.

After trailing, 13-0, until late in the third quarter, Tustin averted an upset by patiently wearing down the Sea Kings and going into a late kick, the way a long-distance runner would. It was Tustin at the wire.

The Tillers got the ball at their 47 yard line with 8:09 to play, following a Corona del Mar punt. The Sea Kings, unable to sustain an offense in the second half, were hoping their defense could cling to a 13-7 lead. On a fourth-and-two play from the Corona del Mar 32, it looked as if they had. Machada took a pitch and tried to turn around left end, but appeared to be stopped in the backfield. He bounced off a tackler and leaped forward, extending himself just far enough for the first down.

It was second-effort that Tustin Coach Marijon Ancich can’t wait to get a second look at when he reviews the films. “Geez, that was something,” Ancich said. “What a big play.”

Moments later, the Tillers needed another one. On fourth and seven from the 26, Tustin quarterback George Menges dropped straight back and found tight end Dave Patstone open in the middle of the Sea King zone for an eight-yard gain and another crucial first down.

A pass interference penalty gave the Tillers a first-and-goal from the seven, and Machada’s winning score came three plays later. Walter McMahon intercepted a pass from Corona del Mar quarterback Mitch Melbon with 51 seconds to play to preserve the victory.

Tustin’s first score came with 4:24 left in the third quarter, following a roughing the passer penalty against the Sea Kings. Tim Hollinger scored on a two-yard run that cut Corona del Mar’s lead to 13-7. An 18-yard scramble by Menges and an 18-yard completion from Menges to Hollinger set up the score.

But it was defense that helped Tustin remain unbeaten (2-0) in league play and improve to 6-1 overall. Corona del Mar’s only touchdown was scored by its defense, on a 65-yard interception return by Jeff Daily. Daily reached up with one hand and pulled the ball in and ran untouched for the touchdown that gave the Sea Kings a 13-0 lead with 1:27 left in the first half.

The Sea Kings’ other scores came on field goals of 22 and 47 yards by Brian Vaughan. But Corona del Mar couldn’t even get within Vaughan’s range in the second half. In fact, the Sea Kings never crossed midfield.

“We had to score in the second half to win,” Corona del Mar Coach Dave Holland said, “and we just couldn’t do it.” Ancich said his team had self-destructed in the first half. The Tillers were penalized four times for 50 yards before intermission, stalling drives and giving Ancich something to talk about at halftime.

“I just told them that we have character, and that we would come back,” Ancich said.

The loss drops Corona del Mar to 0-2 in league play, 2-5 overall.