TONIGHT’S PREP FOOTBALL : Mater Dei Might Be Tustin’s Toughest Test This Season

The Tustin High School football team will likely face its toughest test at 8 tonight when it plays Mater Dei at Orange Coast College.

The Tillers (2-0) have had few problems this season. They routed Honolulu Pac-5, 37-7, in their opener two weeks ago and shut out Foothill, 20-0, last week.

Neither opponent was able to control running backs Ron Goods and Visko Ancich. Goods is second in Orange County with 242 yards rushing; Ancich has gained 131 yards.

However, the Monarchs are made of tougher stuff. Last week they pushed Capistrano Valley, Orange County’s second-ranked team, to the limit before losing, 18-15.

“We have to play the bigger schools,” Tustin Coach Marijon Ancich said. “We need the big gates because we’re suffering financially, and Mater Dei is a big-gate team. When you play big-gate teams, you’re going to get beat.”

Mater Dei has a strong defense, led by linebacker Mike Silvey, who is one of nine starters back from last season.

The Monarchs limited Capistrano Valley quarterback Tony Solliday to 168 yards passing Friday. The previous week, Solliday threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns against Honolulu Damien.

The Monarchs could improve quickly if running back Derek Sparks is declared eligible by the Southern Section. Sparks, who gained 1,944 yards last season for Van Nuys Montclair Prep, enrolled at Mater Dei on Monday.

A decision on his status could come today.

Sparks’ presence could give the Monarch offense a needed boost. Mater Dei had only 227 total yards against Capistrano Valley.

In other games:

Brea-Olinda vs. Katella at Glover Stadium; Capistrano Valley Christian at Mountain Empire; Hawthorne vs. Santa Ana at Santa Ana Stadium; La Quinta vs. Estancia at Newport Harbor; Santa Ana Valley vs. Kennedy at Western; Troy vs. El Dorado at Valencia.