USD CAN STILL SHARE TITLE
Huge upset needed for outright crown, but there’s a chance
USD’s football team opened the season with four straight losses. With three of the defeats coming against scholarship programs, the Toreros were outscored 16150.
“A lesser team could have tanked it and lost every game,” said head coach Dale Lindsey.
Instead, the Toreros have pulled an about face, won six straight games and today in DeLand, Fla., in the regular season finale against Stetson, Lindsey’s team can continue a tradition.
Stuff the Hatters (3-6) and at worst USD (6-4) shares the Pioneer Football League title with Davidson. It would be the ninth time in the past 11 seasons the Toreros won or shared the PFL crown.
Asked if he’s mentioned to his team that there’s something significant at stake, an incredulous Lindsey said, “Well, of course. We don’t ever talk about losing. We talk about winning. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
Until last week, it looked like the best USD could do was finish second to Davidson, which beat the Toreros 28-16 in September. But
Davidson was upset at Dayton 38-29 last Saturday and now both teams sport 6-1 league records.
If Davidson were to lose today, at home, against Drake and USD beat Stetson, the Toreros would win the PFL outright and advance to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.
But Drake (2-8, 1-6) beating Davidson (7-2 overall) would be an upset of Buster
Douglas-KOs-Mike Tyson proportions. Drake’s offense is abysmal, averaging 8.7 points per game in league. Davidson puts up 41.1 points a game.
If Davidson and USD both win, Davidson advances to the playoffs by virtue of its win over the Toreros.
“I don’t see Drake beating Davidson, at all,” said nickel back Kama Kamaka, a five-year starter.
Asked what it would take for Drake to pull off the upset, Lindsey said, “Divine intervention.”
Still, that doesn’t take away from the comeback USD has pulled off. Given the opportunity to play an extra season because of the pandemic, many seniors returned specifically to win another PFL title.
“This is what our program does,” said Kamaka, who’s fourth on the team in tackles. “This is our expectation.”
“Being seniors with three (championship) rings, we weren’t leaving without a fourth,” said linebacker Kyle Bilchik, a three-year starter.
Multiple factors make the six-game winning streak interesting. Four of the wins were nail biters: 27-24 over St. Thomas; 13-10 vs. Drake; 21-14 vs. Valparaiso; and a 10-3 win over Morehead State that came down to a last-minute end-zone interception.
Said Lindsey: “A good team will win the close ones.”
Secondly, a USD program noted for its fly-upand-down-the-field offense has won this year with defense. The unit ranks second in the PFL, allowing 299.9 yards per game and has forced 16 turnovers in seven games.
“I think this is probably the best and most talented defensive players we’ve had on the field at one time,” said Lindsey. “There may have been years we had better corners, maybe better linebackers. But this is the best group we’ve had on the field in nine years.”
Lindsey and defensive coordinator Bobby Jay will have their work cut out for them in the offseason. It’s a veteran defense with eight of the starters seniors, redshirt seniors or graduate transfers.
“We have some talented people with experience at all three levels,” said Lindsey.
It’s a defense led by a disruptive front four, particularly tackle Will Buck and end Muhindo Kapapa, who have combined for 13½ sacks.
But before USD puts a lid on 2021, there’s business to take care of today. If a sixgame winning streak stretches to seven, the Toreros will celebrate another PFL title.
Said Bilchik: “The job’s not finished.”