TOREROS LOSE IN OT ON SENIOR DAY 20 14

Fourteen University of San Diego senior football players were honored before the Toreros’ final home game of the season against St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon. They jogged between two rows of cheerleaders to the middle of the field, where they were met by family members.

The Toreros then went out and played one of their most spirited games of the year. But in keeping with the trying and troubling season, marred by an ongoing hazing scandal, USD lost to the Tommies in overtime, 20-14.

On a day when running back Isaiah Williams rushed for 179 yards, when the defense wasn’t scored on in the second half, it wasn’t enough. Two interceptions by freshman quarterback Dom Nankil (Mater Dei Catholic High School) proved costly, as was a missed 28-yard field goal attempt in OT.

Asked how frustrating it was to play well against a

Toreros at Stetson Saturday:

9 a.m., Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, Deland, Fla. usdtoreros.com

Streaming: team that’s now 7-3, 6-1 in the Pioneer Football League but lose, first-year head coach Brandon Moore said: “It’s unbearable at times. The kids are fighting.

“Amidst all the adversity we’ve faced throughout the season, I feel they did an excellent job of staying in it, staying together, staying relevant as a team and really rooting for each other, cheering each other on.”

The hazing scandal broke days before the first game of the season, when USD announced it had opened an investigation about allegations of improper conduct during training camp. While USD President James T. Harris III said he believed no one was harmed, nearly half the team faced disciplinary action.

Former quarterback AJ Perez filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court last month, alleging he felt forced to participate in a rookie show where a towel and his underwear were ripped off him by players.

In the lawsuit, Perez said players had to perform naked to music and those who didn’t perform satisfactorily had spoons thrown at them or would be hit in the buttocks by a large wooden spoon. He also described other sexually charged hazing rituals that he said were orchestrated by his Toreros teammates.

USD (3-7, 3-4) could have gone ahead late in Saturday’s fourth quarter, but Nankil showed his growing pains. On the St. Thomas 10, Nankil rolled right and tried to squeeze the ball into a tight window only to suffer an endzone interception with 2:47 to play.

Nankil completed 19 of 25 passes for 152 yards, one TD and the two picks.

In USD’S OT possession, Aiden Lehman missed a 28yard field goal attempt wide right. Three plays later, the game was over, St. Thomas running back Hope Adebayo scoring from 16 yards.

How frustrating was the loss? After home games, USD players normally gather in front of the student section and sing their fight song. Saturday afternoon, the players trudged off the field and up the ramp to their locker room.

On Senior Day, Williams (Olympian High School) was dominant, turning in his third straight 100-yard rushing game.

“He put the team on his back and the offensive line did an incredible job blocking for him,” said Moore.

St. Thomas Toreros Overtime