MORENO VALLEY — Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. That’s exactly what happened Friday night as the Rancho Verde football team, behind senior running back Brandon Gilliam’s two rushing touchdowns, controlled the clock and kept a Tahquitz offense that scored 35 points a week ago against Liberty off the field. When that defense did get its opportunities, it too was impressive as the Mustangs (2-3) finished nonleague play with a 30-0 victory. “Tonight was a step in the right direction and we just want to continue building on it going into league play,” Mustangs coach Eric Zomalt said. “My biggest thing right now is getting rid of the penalties because we could’ve put a couple more touchdowns on the board if we were cleaner. We have the potential to be really explosive offensively if we can do that.” Tahquitz (2-4) started with possession and had a three-and-out. Rancho Verde’s first series of the night was a seven-play drive that consumed nearly five minutes and ended with CJ Thompson’s 18-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead after the point after. Just two seconds into the second quarter Gilliam ran in from 6 yards out for a 14-0 lead. On its next series, Tahquitz, aided by a pair of pass interference penalties, drove to the Rancho Verde 1-yard line and went for it on fourth down but came up empty. Then, as time expired in the first half, Rancho Verde’s Malachi Clark came up with an interception to send the defense to halftime with a shutout. “Tonight was Malachi’s first start on defense and during the week I told my staff that he’d be the first one to get an interception in our secondary because of his ball skills and sure enough he did,” Zomalt added. “I’m so happy for our defense to put that kind of performance in against a Tahquitz team that came into tonight on the heels of a big win.” Related Articles High School Sports | IE Varsity’s football wrap-up: Stories, scores and photos from Week 5 games High School Sports | Roosevelt football team holds off Colony in final nonleague tune-up High School Sports | ‘Special’ effort propels Murrieta Valley football team past San Clemente High School Sports | Cajon football team bounces back, outlasts Orange Vista down the stretch High School Sports | San Jacinto football team uses big second quarter to run away from Jurupa Hills Gilliam added his second touchdown run with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 21-0. “Brandon has had some good moments so far this season but tonight I think we saw what he’s truly capable of,” Zomalt continued. “The offensive line did a great job of being connected and giving him room to run.” Amarion Orange then rushed for a touchdown to make it 28-0, and the Rancho Verde defense added a safety to cap the scoring. Rancho Verde opens Ivy League play next Friday at JW North while Tahquitz begins its Mountain Pass League schedule with a trip to San Jacinto.