TUSTIN \u2014 The Tustin football team continues to persevere.<\/p>\n
Riddled by injuries to key players like Ayden Edwards and Jon Ioane, and simultaneously battling grief after the death of former player Will Leapert, the Tillers continue to find a way to win.<\/p>\n
Jeremiah Williams scored on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal to lift Tustin to a 16-13 victory over Long Beach Poly on Friday night at Tustin High.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst and foremost, our defense man is phenomenal. They kept us in it,\u201d Tustin coach Anthony Lopez said. \u201cThey scored as many points as our offense and that\u2019s how we came out on top.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jackrabbits had one final shot at stealing a win thanks to a great kickoff return by Zion Anderson. But a few plays later Amir Moorehead secured the victory for the Tillers with an interception in the final moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur defense is going to keep us in every game,\u201d Lopez said,\u201d and you know, we just got to find some rhythm offensively. If we do that, we\u2019re gonna be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tillers (2-1) saved their best possession for last.<\/p>\n
Poly took a 13-9 lead with 4:27 left in the game on Jeron Johnson II\u2019s TD run.<\/p>\n
Tustin\u2019s Hayden Koo, who has stepped in at quarterback while Edwards works his way back to action, was ready for the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI looked at Hayden, and he was \u2014 he was ready,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cHe just said \u2018let\u2019s go, it\u2019s time.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you put the ball in his hand, special things are gonna happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Koo scrambled for a 32-yard gain after scooping the ball off the turf from a low snap. The run gave Tustin a first-and-goal from the Poly 9.<\/p>\n
After a pair of runs from Steele Holcomb got the ball to the 1, Williams, a BYU commit, did the honors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found a way, we dug deep and got down on the goal line, gave it to the big guy and let him go in,\u201d Lopez said.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma commit Taven Epps\u2019 alertness paid off on the very first play of the second half.<\/p>\n
Rufai Azeez stripped Poly QB Ace Fa\u2019agata near the goal line and Epps dove on the loose ball in the end zone, giving Tustin a 7-6 lead.<\/p>\n
Long Beach Poly (1-2) picked off Koo twice in the first half but had to settle for a pair of field goals by Jonas Mendoza, in part because of Tustin\u2019s stingy defense.<\/p>\n
The Tillers will look for their third straight win when they host Damien on Thursday, Sept. 10.<\/p>\n
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