Two Fourth-Quarter Touchdowns Carry Menlo College Past USD

The University of San Diego football team, looking to avenge a loss that kept it out of the NCAA Division III playoffs in 1987, led Menlo College by 11 points in the fourth quarter Saturday at Atherton.

But USD got no satisfaction in the end.

Menlo quarterback Greg Clark scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns on 1-yard runs, the second with 1 minute 22 seconds remaining, to boost the Oaks to an 18-17 victory.

USD dominated for three quarters--freshman running back Charles Taumoepeau gave the Toreros their 17-6 lead with a 19-yard run late in the third period--but Menlo took over in the fourth.

Menlo’s Tyrious Gates returned the kickoff after Taumoepeau’s touchdown 76 yards to the USD 10. Three plays later, after the start of the fourth quarter, Clark ran in from the one. A missed extra point made it 17-12.

With less than 3 minutes remaining, Clark hit Michael Kahahawai for a 54-yard gain and Billy Ryan for 17 yards to give Menlo first and goal at the Torero 3. Two plays later, Clark swept around left end for the game-winner.

USD led, 7-6, at halftime after Mark Crisci recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone. The Toreros could have had more, but they failed to score after earning a first down at the Menlo one late in the second quarter. Jim Morrison missed a 17-yard field goal attempt on fourth down.

“We didn’t control the game when we had to,” USD Coach Brian Fogarty said. “Their kickoff return and two long passes killed us in the fourth quarter.

“Offensively we didn’t sustain anything, and not getting in from the one before halftime and not getting the field goal hurt us. We did enough good things to win, we just didn’t do them at the right time.”

USD managed only 155 yards of offense (115 on the ground). In the fourth quarter, the Toreros failed to advance the ball past midfield. Fullback Todd Jackson had 73 yards rushing on 22 carries.

USD held Menlo to 14 yards rushing, but Menlo had better luck with the pass. Clark completed 14 of 33 passes for 222 yards. Kahahawai had four catches for 128 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Ryan had five catches for 72 yards.