Tillers Find Balance, Cruise to Victory

Who said quarterback isn’t a glamour position at Tustin High?

Not those who saw David Miller throw a school-record four touchdowns passes Friday night, all in the first half, as the ninth-ranked Tillers dismantled Saddleback, 62-6, in a Golden West League game at Tustin High.

“I’m trying to enter the 21st century and we’re already almost to the 22nd,” Tustin Coach Myron Miller joked. “I always thought passing the ball backwards was a pass, so I’m trying to learn how to throw it forward better.”

Miller’s success with the running game is a big reason why he has guided three teams to Southern Section title games in the last 10 years. But Miller admits the Tillers need to develop a more balanced attack to advance that far this season.

“We’re trying to throw the ball because in Orange County you just can’t run the ball against these good coaches and good teams,” Miller said.

The Tillers (5-3, 2-0) were equally dominant running the ball and the offense put the ball in the end zone on all six first-half drives. Until Miller was sacked on the next-to-last play of the opening half, Tustin had only one running play go for fewer than five yards and averaged more than eight yards a carry.

Miller connected with Mike Zill on an eight-yard touchdown pass on Tustin’s opening drive. After Marshall Smith gave the Tillers a 14-0 lead with an eight-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, Miller hit tight end Chris Chester over the middle with a 39-yard strike, giving Tustin a 21-0 lead.

Saddleback (3-4, 0-2) got past midfield for the first time on its next possession, but the drive was stopped following one of Tustin’s four first-half sacks.

Branden Malcom gave Tustin a 28-0 lead with a five-yard touchdown run, then Chris Chatman followed with touchdown receptions of 22 and 47 yards.

Chatman’s second touchdown came on the final play of the half, when Miller threw him a short hitch and he weaved his way through several defenders and crossed the goal line as time expired. The pass also broke the school record, which was shared by three players, including Miller.