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Tustin football rolls to win over El Dorado with revised offense

September 6, 2024

PLACENTIA — Eimesse Essis scored three first-half touchdowns and Jon Ioane had two touchdown passes to help Tustin’s football team improve to 3-0 with a 42-10 win over El Dorado on Thursday night at Valencia High.

Tillers coach Anthony Lopez admitted the entire offense changed once their projected starter at quarterback, Michael “Butter” Tollefson, was ruled ineligible to play for the Tillers this season by CIF-SS, but the team has come together despite the adversity.

“We love the kid, he is missed tremendously from our team and we built a whole offense around him but we still gotta play on Friday nights,” Lopez said, referring to Tollefson. “So we put something together on offense. We have a lot of guys going both ways and they’re doing a tremendous job and that’s really what our team is built on, guys doing their job and leaning on each other.”

Ioane stepped up with 175 yards passing and two touchdowns. The sophomore defensive lineman, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, has a throwing arm that matches his enormous stature.

“The kid’s never played quarterback in his life but stepped up when the team needed him,” Lopez said. “He’s our 3-technique (lineman), but he has a phenomenal arm and we knew we could take some shots (down field) and that really helps the run game.”

Khalil Terry’s first-quarter interception helped set up Tustin’s first score.

“Our defense has done an amazing job for us this year,” Lopez said. “They put the offense in good positions.”

After the interception, Ioane connected with Essis on a fourth-down screen pass that went for a 19-yard TD.

Essis doubled his touchdown tally on another fourth-down scenario as the senior took a handoff 21 yards to the house to make it 14-0.

Tustin RB Eimesse Essis scored 3 TDs in the Tillers 42-10 win over El Dorado. The senior running back gives credit to all the offseason work and his offensive line for the great start. Essis also praises @jonnioane for stepping in to play QB. @ocvarsity @Tiller_Football… pic.twitter.com/MiNXxsZSDm

— David Delgado🇪🇨 (@DavidDelgado_OC) September 6, 2024

Essis added an 11-yard TD run in the second quarter after a 49-yard completion on a double-pass from Ioane to Chris Perez, who found Rufai Azeez open down field.

“Eimesse does his thing, just like he does every game.” Lopez said.

Tre Cushionberry added two touchdowns for the Tillers, one on a 37-yard reverse in the second quarter and the other on a 31-yard reception in the third quarter to make it 36-3.

Tustin running back Jeremiah Williams recovered a fumble in the end zone in the third quarter to give the Tillers a 42-3 lead late in the third quarter.

The Tillers defense collected a pair of interceptions. One of them went to Jalen Gay, and Tustin recorded three sacks as it pressured Mitchell Schroth for most of the game.

El Dorado (1-2) got on the board as time expired in the first half thanks to a 29-yard field goal by Nathan Tierney. It added a 4-yard touchdown run by JP Murray in the fourth quarter.

Tustin kicker Nathan Ixta connected on a 29-yard field goal in the second quarter.

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Orange County Register