USD Falls Behind Early, Loses, 34-7

The University of San Diego fell behind by 20 points in the first quarter and lost to St. Mary’s, 34-7, Saturday in a nonconference football game at Moraga, Calif.

Alex Bauer kicked field goals of 25 and 42 yards to give St. Mary’s (7-2) a 6-0 lead.

James Javier scored on a two-yard run and Bobby Crame returned a pass interception eight yards for another score. Bauer kicked the extra points and St. Mary’s, an NCAA Division II team, led, 20-0.

USD (6-2-1), an NCAA Division III team, scored with 38 seconds left in the first quarter on a 50-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Brendan Murphy to Sam McDermott.

St. Mary’s added two touchdowns in the second half on a six-yard run by quarterback Tim Rosencranz and five-yard touchdown pass from Rosencranz to Bennie Taylor. Bauer kicked both extra points.

St. Mary’s had 374 yards total offense; USD was held to 142 yards. Rosencranz completed 14 of 29 passes for 183 yards, and tight end Jon Braff had 7 catches for 126 yards.

Murphy, who was sacked 5 times, was 5 for 15 for 80 yards, and Virgil Enriquez had 11 carries for 33 yards to lead USD.

Linebacker Bryan Day had 18 tackles, including 8 solo, to lead USD.

The Toreros play host to Menlo College next Saturday with a possible playoff berth at stake. Menlo is ranked No. 4 in the West, and USD is No. 6. Four teams will qualify from the West region for the 16-team Division III playoffs.