St. Mary’s Is Key to USD Playoff Hopes

The University of San Diego football team, still in the running for an NCAA Division III playoff berth, will seek its fourth win in a row when it plays its third straight road game today at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s College.

The Toreros (6-1-1), hoping for an at-large bid, probably will have to win their final two regular-season contests, today’s game and next week’s homecoming game against Menlo College (5-2).

St. Mary’s is 6-2, including a 51-17 victory over Azusa Pacific, the only team to have beaten USD. Quarterback Tim Rosenkranz has thrown for 12 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

He’ll be challenging a USD secondary that has picked off 18 passes, led by free safety Bryan Day with five. The Torero secondary has been the cornerstone of a defense that has recorded four shutouts (including last week’s 7-0 win at UC Santa Barbara) and has allowed fewer than 10 points in six of its eight games.