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TUSTIN — Tustin entered the CIF-SS football playoffs as Orange County’s lone undefeated team, and one of only four in the vast section with a 10-0 record.
Warren made sure the Tillers dropped from the list Friday.
The Bears intercepted a pass at their 26-yard line with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter to seal a 34-33 victory over the Tillers in a thrilling first round game in the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs at Tustin High.
Tustin (10-1), seeded sixth in the division, made a fourth-down stop from its 10 with 1:45 left and reached the Warren 46 before the only turnover of the game. Senior Jordan Jones of Warren grabbed the victory-sealing interception.
“That’s a great high school game to watch if you’re a fan,” Warren coach Kevin Pearson said. “You had a tale of two teams. One that chucks the ball around the yard and the other one keeps it and pounds it on the ground. It was just whoever could stop the other’s strength is going to win that game and fortunately for us, we came at the end and got a pick.”
“They’re definitely worthy of being 10-0,” he added about the Tillers.
Next week, Warren (9-2) will play host to No. 3 Oak Hills, a 26-13 winner against Beaumont, in the quarterfinals.
Tustin trailed 27-13 at halftime but tied the score in the third quarter on touchdowns runs of 35 and 1 yards by running back Eimesse Essis (186 yards). The latter tied the score at 27-27 with 19 seconds left.
But on the next play from scrimmage, former Pacifica star Jordan Ross took a short pass from Madden Iamaleava and bolted for an 62-yard TD as the Bears regained the lead 34-27.
Tustin answered with its second trick play of clash, a 30-yard touchdown reception by Mackenzie Alleyne from fellow wide out Larry Allen off a reverse. Warren blocked the PAT to maintain a 34-33 lead with 8:11 left in the fourth.
“We left it all out on the field,” Tustin senior cornerback Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins said. “I feel like we had a great season. I’m proud of my guys, We came and did what no one thought we would. … We had a run.”
Warren, seeded 11th, put Tustin on its heels in the first half with four long touchdown pass by Iamaleava on his first four possessions. He finished with 443 yards and five TDs.
The junior opened the scoring by tossing a 49-yard strike to Ross, who broke free from two tacklers in the secondary.
Iamaleava then threw a 59-yard touchdown to Ross’ brother Jalen, who grabbed a pass deflected by a Tustin defensive back in stride around the Tillers 20 before racing into the end zone.
Later in the first quarter, Iamaleava — the brother of Tennessee freshman QB Nico Iamaleava — fired a 30-yard TD strike to wideout Jace Brown, who made a leaping snag at the back of the end zone as Warren opened a 20-6 lead.
Tustin responded early in the second quarter with a trick play for a score. Alleyne lined up in the wildcat and lofted a 9-yard TD to the UCLA committed Dunbar-Hawkins on the first play of the period.
But on the next play from scrimmage, Iamaleava launched an 80-yard TD strike to Jalen Ross, pushing Warren’s lead to 27-13.
Iamaleava finished the first half 12 of 20 for 330 yards, including four to Jalen Jones for 192.
Tustin’s challenges on defense were compounded in the second quarter with the loss of freshman safety Khalil Terry, who was carted off the field holding his arm.
The Tillers swept through the regular season with a 10-0 record and won the Empire League. It was their best start since 2012.
Tustin’s sizzling play led to a major promotion in playoff divisions. The Tillers climbed seven divisions from Division 10 last season.
“We kind of knew,” Tustin coach Anthony Lopez said of the promotion, “the way we were playing.”
All class and positivity from Tustin senior and #UCLA commit @dunbar_hawkins after a tough loss, Bruins getting a standup guy @Tiller_Football pic.twitter.com/dVQ8qxk3mh
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) November 4, 2023
Warren, the Gateway League champion, competed in Division 2 last season. The Bears lost at Sierra Canyon 22-21 in the first round after missing a late field goal.
