Interceptions Prove Costly for USD, 14-9

Coach Brian Fogarty, looking for some consistent play from his young University of San Diego football team, got instead some inconsistent play from quarterback Pat Dixon Saturday afternoon.

Dixon, a junior, completed 15 of 33 passes for 162 yards but threw 3 interceptions and fumbled two consecutive snaps from center on the Toreros’ final drive in a 14-9 loss to UC Santa Barbara in Toreros Stadium. Both teams are 3-4.

“Pat simply did not play well,” Fogarty said. “You have to be consistent to be a good football team. We moved the ball well but we couldn’t get into the end zone.”

Dixon’s interceptions, all in the first half, created most of the problems. He threw an interception on USD’s first drive after moving the Toreros to the UCSB seven-yard line. Later in the first quarter, Dixon threw an interception in the end zone. Then, on the Toreros’ final drive of the half, Dixon threw into coverage over the middle and the pass was intercepted at the UCSB 23 by Gaucho linebacker John Barnes.

The Toreros scored in the fourth on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dixon to Jeff Mansukhani. USD cut the lead to 14-9 when UCSB punter Steve Marks intentionally stepped out of the end zone instead of punting with 6:36 remaining.

Dixon moved his team to UCSB 23 with 23 seconds remaining before his inconsistent play caught up with him again. In his rush to get a play off, Dixon fumbled the snap from center. He dived on it, but USD had no timeouts remaining and the clock continued to run. With five seconds left, Dixon again fumbled the snap, although USD received a reprieve when the Gauchos were called for offsides.

With his last chance at the UCSB 19, Dixon’s pass fell incomplete at the back line of the end zone.