Tustin Cruises Past Saddleback

By RICH RAMUS

Nov. 4, 2000 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Ricky Miller rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries and caught a touchdown pass as No. 8 Tustin defeated Saddleback, 57-21, Friday at Santa Ana Stadium to clinch a share of the Golden West League title.

Tustin (8-1, 3-0 in league) and Saddleback (5-4, 2-1) came into the game tied for first place, but Tustin was clearLy the superior team. The Tillers had 468 rushing yards--553 yards total--and 23 first downs, and now has outscored its league opponents, 203-50.

Still, Tustin Coach Myron Miller had reason to be upset. The Tillers were penalized 15 times for 115 yards and were torched for 326 yards through the air by Saddleback senior Ramon Saavedra.

“I knew they couldn’t stop us from scoring,” said Myron Miller, who has led the Tillers to four league titles in six seasons. “We had to overcome about 14 [actually 15] penalties.”

Tustin led, 22-0, before Saddleback scored on a 46-yard pass from Saavedra to Ismael Isias with 3 minutes 27 seconds remaining in the first half. Ricky Miller, running behind left tackle William Johnson, broke free for a 76-yard touchdown run on the next play and Tustin led, 29-7, at halftime.

Saddleback took the second-half kickoff and drove 80 yards for a touchdown to pull within 29-14. Saavedra completed six of eight passes for 58 yards on the drive, which was capped by a one-yard run by Joel Gonzalez.

Unfazed, the Tillers countered with a 61-yard drive, culminated by a seven-yard touchdown run by Ricky Miller. Saddleback answered with a 78-yard screen pass from Saavedra to Gonzalez to make it 37-21, but it was all Tustin in the fourth quarter.

Tustin’s Frostee Rucker rushed for 125 yards in 18 carries.

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GOLDEN WEST

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League Overall School W L T W L T Tustin 3 0 0 8 1 0 Saddleback 2 1 0 5 4 0 Westminster 2 1 0 3 5 1 Ocean View 1 2 0 5 4 0 Santa Ana 0 4 0 0 9 0

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WEEK 9

Thursday’s result

* Westminster 20, La Quinta 8

Friday’s result

* Ocean View 24, Santa Ana 6

* Tustin 57, Saddleback 21