Woodbridge’s Late Collapse Opens Door for Tustin

As time ran out, a stunned and perplexed Woodbridge football team could only stare, silently, in disbelief. Tustin’s 27-17 victory just seemed to be too bad to be true.

The Warriors just had to wonder, what happened?

They had dominated the Tillers for a little more than three quarters. Then, in only 11 minutes, Woodbridge lost an 11-point lead and its Sea View League opener at Tustin High School.

“I don’t know how we did it, but that was a game of pride for our kids,” Tustin Coach Marijon Ancich said. “We just didn’t stop playing.”

Actually, the Tillers didn’t start until the final quarter. But when they awoke, it was with a vengeance.

Running back Maurice Fletcher, who was contained through three quarters, gained 94 yards in the fourth quarter. He scored one touchdown, then got the go-ahead score with a catch-me-if-you-can run, during which he left defenders grasping at air.

Meanwhile, the Warriors were busy self-destructing. Quarterback James Wyatt, cool and effective in building the lead, was later pressured into mistakes. He underthrew and overthrew his receivers, but hit Tustin defensive back Eric Del Prado right in the hands.

Del Prado’s interception set up the final touchdown, which left the already emotionally drained Warriors bewildered.

Wyatt finished 12 of 26 for 152 yards with two interceptions.

“I’m stunned myself,” said Fletcher, who finished with 152 yards rushing. “Even some of our guys thought we were beat.”

Wyatt and running back Glenn Edwards did what they pleased against a Tustin defense that had given up only 37 points.

Edwards caught five passes for 80 yards and gained 57 yards in 13 carries. Twice he and Wyatt hooked up on touchdown passes, the last of which was an improvisational act.

Wyatt was flushed from the pocket, rolled left and waved at Edwards to go downfield. Edwards slipped behind two Tustin defensive backs and caught a 30-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors a 17-6 lead with 11 minutes 46 seconds left.

Until then, Tustin’s offense consisted of two field goals by Zach Mathews, of 40 and 20 yards. He did. Fletcher capped a 70-yard drive by bursting over left tackle for a 19-yard touchdown run.

After the defense held, Fletcher was on the move again. He swept right, cut back left, then right, then left again. Fletcher was finally chased down at the Woodbridge six. Three plays later Keith Thomas scored on a three-yard run and Tustin had the lead.

Thomas scored again after Del Prado’s interception.