San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
TOREROS LEAN ON ‘D’ TO TOP PRESBYTERIAN 24 21
With only three returning starters back on offense, USD football coach Dale Lindsey sensed his defense would have to carry the Toreros early in this unprecedented spring football season. And for the third week in a row USD’S defenders did just that.
The defense scored one touchdown and set up another as the Toreros hung on to defeat Presbyterian College 24-21 on Saturday in Clinton, S.C.
On a day when the offense turned the ball over twice and had a touchdown nullified by penalty, the defense accounted for USD’S first touchdown.
On Presbyterian’s first play from scrimmage, cornerback Amir Wallace stripped the ball from a wide receiver and returned the fumble 23 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 lead.
“That was the difference in the game,” Lindsey said by phone.
The defense’s second big play came with less than a minute to play in the first half. Defensive lineman Chris Reese picked off a deflected pass, giving the Toreros (3-0) the ball on the Blue Hose’s 30. Three plays later, Mason Randall hit Michael Carner for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds on the clock for a 17-7 lead.
Randall completed 23 of 34 passes for 301 yards. With one minute to play in the third quarter he hooked up with tight end Derek Klein on a 15-yard score for a 24-7 lead.
Were it not for the offense’s struggles the Toreros would have cruised to an easy win. But the offense racked up 114 yards in penalties. And Randall was intercepted twice in Presbyterian territory, once on the goal line.
“The offense
Toreros
Presbyterian
is killing themselves all the time,” Lindsey said.
Trailing 24-14 with 40 seconds to play, Presbyterian (1-3) scored on an 80-yard touchdown pass to pull to within a field goal. USD clinched the win by recovering the onside kick.
“It might have been ugly, it might have been close, but it’s a win. That’s the only thing that counts,” said Lindsey.
While Presbyterian doesn’t become an official member of the Pioneer Football League until next season, the game counted toward the PFL standings that will determine the league champion and automatic qualifier for the FCS playoffs.
That title likely will be decided next Saturday when USD hosts Davidson, which ran its PFL record to 3-0 with a 24-21 comeback win against Morehead State. The Toreros also will be attempting to win their 40th straight PFL game, which would set an FCS record for most consecutive league wins.
Senior running back Emilio Martinez rushed for 121 yards on 22 carries, plus gained another 75 yards on six catches. Carner led the receiving corps with nine catches for 107 yards.
Kama Kamaka and Kyle Bilchik led the defense with eight tackles.
After allowing a combined 272 yards in its first two games, the Toreros gave up 440 against Presbyterian, including touchdowns of 75 and 80 yards.
While his defense proved to be the difference, Lindsey said, “I don’t feel they played as well as they’re capable of.”