BY TED APODACA: The scoreboard contradicted what Pacifica High coach Vinnie Lopez felt was a solid performance by his defense.
The Mariners had fallen to Tustin, 35-15, in an Empire League game at Bolsa Grande High School last week.
But the Tillers had scored two defensive touchdowns that changed the momentum of the game and sparked the Tillers to victory. The loss dropped the Mariners to 1-2 in league, which puts them in a position where they need to win their last two games and likely get help to vie for a top three finish.
BY TED APODACA: The scoreboard contradicted what Pacifica High coach Vinnie Lopez felt was a solid performance by his defense.
The Mariners had fallen to Tustin, 35-15, in an Empire League game at Bolsa Grande High School last week.
But the Tillers had scored two defensive touchdowns that changed the momentum of the game and sparked the Tillers to victory. The loss dropped the Mariners to 1-2 in league, which puts them in a position where they need to win their last two games and likely get help to vie for a top three finish.
Tustin took a 21-3 lead at halftime, with a big play on defense thwarting a Pacifica scoring opportunity. The Mariners were in position to tie the game at 7-7 when Tustin intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“I think offensively we struggled, two weeks in a row, we haven’t taken care of the football,” Lopez said.
Late in the third, trailing 28-3, the Mariner defense forced a Tustin fumble at midfield to give the ball back to the offense. The Mariner offense drove 51 yards six plays, ending with a Nick Garcia nine-yard touchdown run to cut lead to 28-9.
Tustin responded with a drive deep into Pacifica territory, but the Mariners forced another fumble near the goal line to thwart the drive. However, on the first play, the Mariners fumbled the ball into their own end zone and Tustin recovered the ball for a touchdown and a 35-9 lead.
The Mariners responded on their ensuing drive with an 86-yard scoring drive. Marcus Tolbert opened the drive with a 12-yard run. Two plays later, Garcia hit Mathew Estrada for a 14-yard pass to the 46 yard line. The Mariners chipped away and eventually, Garcia found Matt Moslenko for a 13-yard completion to the Tiller 13 yard line. On the next play, Garcia hit Estrada for a 13-yard touchdown that cut the Tiller lead to 35-15.
“I thought defensively we played lights out, we matched up and were physical with them,” Lopez said.
But it was too little, too late as the Tillers were able to eat up much of the remaining time and hold on for the lead. Garcia finished the night with 203 passing yards, with Estrada leading the receiving corps with 66 reception yards. Moslenko had 46 yards receiving and Aaron Jackobs had 45 reception yards.
The Mariners finish the regular season at Valencia on Nov. 5. Lopez is confident his team will be ready to battle in the final two league games.
“This is a tough resilient group, I’m very proud of the way these guys played tonight, even when things weren’t rolling their way, they didn’t give up, they didn’t get lazy, they fought all night and I’m very proud of the way our guys played,” Lopez said.
