Cloutier’s TD Gives USD a 21-17 Victory

Roger Cloutier’s two-yard run with 36 seconds left in the game gave USD (3-3) a 21-17 win over the University of La Verne (2-3) at Torero Stadium Saturday night. Cloutier rushed for 157 yards on 28 carries.

USD started its winning drive with 3:46 remaining on its 21. Cloutier picked up 10 yards on two runs to give the Toreros a first down. From the 31, USD quarterback Pat Dixon hit wide receiver Jeff Mansukhani with a 35-yard pass, moving USD to the La Verne 31.

After Tom Woodward had a nine-yard run, Dixon rolled out and hit tight end Lionel DeMorst for a 16-yard gain to the 10.

Three plays later, Cloutier bulled his way into the end zone.

“We felt if we could get the ball last, we could do something with it,” Dixon said. “We were moving the ball all night, we just hadn’t punched it in the end zone.”

Dixon completed 9 of 20 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. He threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Scott Reilly with 23 seconds to play in the half.

USD’s first touchdown came on 23-yard interception return by cornerback Ben Stoebner. La Verne’s scores came on one-yard runs by quarterback David Van Allen and running back Edwin Fletcher and a 25-yard field goal by Shawn Zink.