Greatness of Scott’s Arm to Be Tested

Perhaps more than anyone, Myron Miller knows any hope Tustin has against Santa Margarita in Saturday’s Southern Section Division V championship game at Cal State Fullerton will come down to his quarterback’s ability to complete passes.

Miller, a veteran coach whose teams have enjoyed great success running the ball in the wing-T offense, said senior Todd Scott will need to throw the ball when he isn’t handing it off to talented running back DeShaun Foster. This will add balance to Tustin’s high-powered, but simplistic offense.

“The key to the game, without doubt,” Miller said, “is we have to be able to throw the ball to keep Santa Margarita off-balance. If they can zero in on DeShaun and not worry about Todd’s passing, we can’t win.”

Santa Margarita’s defense is often overshadowed by the team’s high-scoring offense, but the Eagles (13-0) have given up only 966 yards all season, an average of 74 per game. Foster, a senior who has rushed for a county-record 3,020 yards and 48 touchdowns, usually gets that much in the first quarter.

That’s where Scott, who has tied a school record with 17 touchdown passes this year, comes in.

“I’ve got to do my part--complete passes,” Scott said. “If I don’t, they’ll all gang up on DeShaun.”

Scott has completed 64 of 81 passes for 1,203 yards. But in last week’s 9-7 victory against Brea Olinda in the mud at Tustin, he attempted only two passes and didn’t complete either.

More often, Scott, at only 5 feet 6 and 165 pounds, pitches the ball to Foster and then leads the blocking for him.

“I love it,” Scott said. “I like going in and blocking for DeShaun. It’s fun to see him run.”

Tustin’s other back, junior fullback David Little, said it will take a lot of blocks by him and Scott, as well as a couple of good passes, to have a chance against the Eagles.

“We can’t turn over the ball, we can’t miss any blocks,” Little said. “We have to play perfect.”

Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan agreed containing Foster was a big part of the Eagles’ game plan. But he also said he has prepared other defensive schemes should Tustin take to the air.

“[Scott] has shown he can throw the ball,” Hartigan said. “He has improved a lot since last year. He has the ability to throw downfield and he has gifted receivers that can run downfield quickly.”

“If they are into that game plan and they go away from Foster, we will make adjustments. We are not going to let [Scott] throw the ball all day. We will have to put pressure on him.”

Miller says he has faith in Scott’s ability to guide his offense. After all, he has led Tustin to a 13-0 record and the Tillers’ first Golden West League title.

“He’s an outstanding passer,” Miller said. “He’s a play-action passer, and when we get him outside and he doesn’t have to look over tall linemen, he’s been making real big plays for us this year. He only has two interceptions, plus he knows when to throw the ball and when to eat it and not make a bad play.”

Tustin is averaging 46 points per game this year. Last year, however, the Tillers were averaging 51 until they were shut out by Santa Margarita, 31-0, in the section semifinals.

Scott agreed he and his teammates will have to execute every play Saturday.

“We have to play pretty much perfect,” he said.