Tustin football knocks off Yorba Linda to get back on the winning track
0Ghana mSeptember 20, 2025
YORBA LINDA – Tustin started the season with two wins, then lost its next two games.
The Tillers sorely needed a win Friday and they got it with a defense-led 21-7 victory over Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game at Yorba Linda High.
It was the final nonleague game for both teams and the first loss of the season for Yorba Linda.
Tustin defensive tackle Jeremiah Williams jumps into the end zone for the touchdown in the fourth quarter against Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin’s Taven Epps carries the ball into the end zone after catching a pass against Yorba Linda in the third quarter in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda wide receiver Troy Roberts, right, makes a move around Tustin’s Hayden Koo (0) and takes the ball down close to the goal line to set up a touchdown in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin wide receiver Hayden Koo, left, makes the touchdown catch in front of Yorba Linda cornerback Thomas Knutson in the first quarter in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda quarterback Noah Trujillo drops back to pass against Tustin in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin wide receiver Jeremiah Salvant, right, loses his shoe as he avoids a tackle by Yorba Linda cornerback Jake Lopez to gain more yardage after catching a pass in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda running back Vaughn Sharp finds some room to gain yardage against Tustin in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
After catching a pass, Yorba Linda wide receiver Troy Roberts runs the ball down close to the goal line to set up a touchdown against Tustin in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
WIth an open field in front of him, Yorba Linda wide receiver Troy Roberts lets a pass get away against Tustin in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin defensive tackle Jeremiah Williams, right, does a little celebrating after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin quarterback Ayden Edwards gets ready to fire a pass as he rolls out of the pocket against Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin wide receiver Hayden Koo pushes Yorba Linda cornerback Thomas Knutson away after catching a pass in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin quarterback Ayden Edwards makes a big gain on a keeper against Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
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Tustin defensive tackle Jeremiah Williams jumps into the end zone for the touchdown in the fourth quarter against Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin (3-2) and Yorba Linda (4-1) do not play next week, a needed break before they start league play in two weeks.
Tustin sophomore quarterback Ayden Edwards threw two touchdown passes, to Hayden Koo and Taven Epps. Jeremiah Williams (6-2, 300) rumbled for the Tillers’ other touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Edwards was an efficient 19 of 24 for 205 yards passing. Eli Robinson carried the ball 14 times, all between the tackles, for 48 rugged yards. Koo had nine receptions for 65 yards and Jeremiah Salvant had seven receptions for 97 yards.
Tustin, ranked No. 12 in the Orange County Top 25, started the season 2-0 with wins over San Clemente 30-17 and Foothill 44-0. The Tillers then lost to Long Beach Poly 28-27 and Damien 24-7. Damien is the No. 1 team in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s area rankings.
Yorba Linda, No. 7 in the Orange County rankings, was averaging 32 points a game going into Friday’s game. The Mustangs found it difficult to get its offense going against Tustin’s fast and physical defense. Yorba Linda was held to 109 passing yards and 50 rushing yards.
Yorba Linda’s first two possessions ended with punts, the third was failed fourth down and its fifth and final possession of the first half was an interception by Tustin’s Khalil Terry, the second interception of the season for the junior safety who has offers from a long list of colleges including Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Tustin scored on its first possession, a third-and-goal at the 1-yard line floater pass from Edwards to Koo in the right rear corner of the end zone. The point-after kick was blocked by Isaiah Trujillo, leaving the Tillers with a 6-0 lead which would be the halftime score.
Early in the third quarter Yorba Linda appeared to have lost a fumble, recovered by Terry, but the officials decided that an inadvertent whistle was blown on the play, and by rule that play had to start over. Yorba Linda would score on that possession on a 2-yard run by Gavin Smith to take a 7-6 lead.
Tustin came back with a 17-yard middle-screen touchdown pass from Edwards to Taven Epps, and an Edwards pass to Koo was good for two points and a 14-7 lead with 1:08 left in the third quarter.
Williams’ touchdown run with 3:26 to go in the game, and a Williams sack later, sealed the win for the Tillers.
Yorba Linda opens Bravo League play against Villa Park on Oct. 3 at El Modena High. Tustin plays its Delta League opener against Cypress at Western High on Oct. 2.
