TUSTIN — Before former Tustin High football star DeShaun Foster was officially placed in the school’s hall of fame at halftime of the season opener against visiting El Toro on Friday night, another running back was stealing the show.
Eimesse Essis rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to pave the way for a 35-6 victory at Tustin High.
Essis was slowed by cramps in the second half, but still finished with 204 yards on 12 carries and the three scores.
“I got a legend watching over me,” Essis said of Foster, who is about to begin his first season as head coach at UCLA and still holds the single-season Orange County rushing record of 3,398 yards in 1997.
The Tillers were even more dependent on their running game after quarterback Michael Tollefson was unable to complete his eligibility requirements in time for the season opener.
Tollefson, an Arizona State commit whose nickname is ‘Butter,’ transferred from JSerra in the offseason.
“We were expecting ‘Butter’ to get cleared by today, but it didn’t end up happening,” Tustin coach Anthony Lopez said. “We had to change our game plan, and kind of put that game plan together today.”
Tustin scored on three of its first four drives and produced two interceptions in the first half to take a 22-0 lead into the break.
The Chargers missed a prime opportunity for a turnover on the opening drive when Tustin receiver Taven Epps slipped on a route, but two players in the El Toro secondary were unable to come down with the ball.
Essis then scored on a 24-yard run on the next play to give the Tillers a 7-0 lead with 6:41 left in the opening quarter.
“He is legit,” said El Toro first-year coach Peter Lofthouse, who spent the past six seasons at Newport Harbor. “I’ve seen some special ones in the Sunset League, but he’s up there with them. He can really play.”
El Toro quarterback Jack McKelvy was intercepted on the first play of the ensuing drive by Khalil Terry and Tustin took possession at the Chargers 42.
The Tillers continued to lean on Essis, who had a touchdown called back because of a holding penalty, but scored two plays later on a 5-yard run for a 14-0 lead with 3:32 left in the opening quarter.
McKelvy attempted a screen pass on the next series, but it was intercepted by standout defensive end Tim Ioane, who injured his right knee after the catch and did not return.
Essis scored on a 5-yard run on fourth-and-goal with 4:00 left in the first half and the Tillers converted the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 22-0.
Essis rushed for 1,592 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
“He’s been phenomenal,” Lopez said of Essis. “He started for us as a sophomore. It’s his senior year, so we’re going to keep rolling with him.”
Montrevian Cushionberry scored on a 79-yard catch and run with 1:02 left in third quarter to extend the lead to 35-0.
Matthew Arroyo broke the shutout when he caught a 15-yard touchdown from McKelvy midway through the fourth quarter to cut it to 35-6.
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