No. 8 Tustin Runs Over Pacifica

Ricky Miller and Frostee Rucker each rushed for more than 100 yards and scored three touchdowns Thursday night as Tustin, ranked eighth in the county, defeated Pacifica, 49-17, in a nonleague game at Bolsa Grande.

Tustin (6-1) rushed for 485 yards and in one stretch scored on five consecutive possessions.

After spotting Pacifica a 3-0 lead, Miller scored on a 17-yard run with 4 minutes 54 seconds left in the first quarter. Pacifica then got a defensive touchdown when Brian Chow recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown to give the Mariners a 10-7 lead.

But four plays later, Miller scored on a 47-yard run to put the Tillers in front for good. Rucker went in from two yards out early in the second quarter and Miller scored the last of his touchdowns, a one-yarder, with 6:53 left in the half.

Miller finished with 141 yards in 12 carries.

With 10 seconds left in the second quarter, Rucker scored on a one-yard run as Tustin, ranked fourth in Southern Section Division VI, built a 35-10 halftime lead. Tustin gained 309 yards on the ground and its defense limited Pacifica (4-3) to 55 first-half yards.

Rucker added a seven-yard touchdown run with 5:06 left in the third quarter. He finished with 114 yards in 13 carries.

Four minutes into the fourth quarter, Pacifica’s Jacob Clark caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Chris Wikle to make it 42-17. Matt McCoy closed the scoring with 4:08 remaining, when he scored on a six-yard run.

Pacifica, which entered the game ranked sixth in Division IX, was led by Javon Smith, who rushed for 65 yards in 19 carries.

Tustin’s defense had four sacks and held the Mariners to 120 yards in total offense.