TUSTIN

1997 RECORD: 13-1 overall, 5-0 in league

COACH: Myron Miller (28-9-1 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 3 on offense, 4 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Derek Johnson, NG/TE, 6-2, 240, Sr.; David Little, FB/DE, 5-11, 225, Sr.; Branden Malcom, RB/CB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Jay Tamkoc, SE/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Adam Teshke, K, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Dale Watkins, LB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Mike Zill, CB, 6-1, 180, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Isaac Jones, RB/DE, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Mike Rogers, CB/RB, 5-11,185, Sr.; James Sargent, RB/S, 6-2, 195, Sr.; Pelatti Tialino, OL/DL, 6-5, 320, Jr.; Armando Venegas, G, 6-1, 300, Jr.

OUTLOOK

Life without DeShaun Foster begins now. But Miller isn’t concerned. “Instead of having one running back run for 3,000 yards, we will have four running backs run for 4,000 yards,” Miller said. Foster isn’t the only missing starter from last year’s squad; the Tillers return only six starters from last season’s Division V Southern Section finalist. Malcom, Little, Jones and Sargent will probably share time in the backfield. Miller is excited about Sargent, a transfer from Santa Ana Valley. Sargent was floundering in Valley’s passing offense and is ready to show his stuff in Miller’s run and run again attack. “With no doubt, he’s a Division I player,”Miller said. Sargent also has a 3.6 grade-point average and a 1080 on his SAT. Johnson, a second-team all-county selection, returns as the mainstay of the defensive line. He will be joined by Venegas, a 300-pound transfer from University. Teshke to top his mark of kicking 68 extra points as a junior last season, but that will require the Tillers to score plenty of points again. Last season, 362 of those points were scored by Foster. Miller said the team faces the toughest nonleague schedule since he has been on campus, with Capistrano Valley, Los Alamitos and Temecula Valley on the schedule.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 11 vs. Foothill; 17 vs. Hacienda Heights Los Altos; 25 vs. Los Alamitos.

Oct. 2 at Capistrano Valley; 9 at Temecula Valley; 16 vs. Ocean View; 23 vs. Santa Ana at Santa Ana Stadium; 30 vs. Servite.

Nov. 6 vs. Saddleback at Santa Ana Stadium; 12 vs. Westminster.