USD’s Challenge: Slow Occidental’s Running Attack

Playing Occidental College in football is like facing Orel Hershiser--you don’t want to meet him at any time, and you absolutely dread facing him when he’s hot.

“In the past five years, Occidental has been the top Division III school on the West Coast,” said Brian Fogarty, the University of San Diego coach.

And right now, Occidental is hot. After losing its opener, 17-13, to Azusa Pacific, it has won four in a row with two shutouts and is coming off a near-perfect 70-16 romp over Pomona-Pitzer last week.

Tonight, Occidental will visit Torero Stadium to play USD at 7:30.

This is a big game for both schools. Of the approximately 200 Division III football teams (nine west of the Rockies), 16 make the NCAA playoffs. Fogarty feels that a loss for either USD (3-2) or Occidental (4-1) will probably end that team’s chances for postseason consideration.

On offense, the Tigers like to run; they rushed for 451 yards against Pomona-Pitzer. Running back Kevin Vegas gained 203 yards (a yard more than his total for the previous 4 games) and 4 touchdowns on 20 carries. Fullback George Conahey had 14 rushes for 105 yards.

Occidental doesn’t throw much, but the Tigers make it count when they do. Last week, Tony Werbelow completed 6 of 6 passes for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns. For the season, he is 31 for 44 (70%) for 407 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions.

While running is Occidental’s strength, stopping the run is USD’s. The Torero defense established a school record last week against Whittier College, holding the Poets to minus 18 yards rushing on 42 carries. USD is allowing just 60.2 rushing yards per game--well ahead of last season’s school-record average of 80.

Linebacker Frank Love had 10 tackles last week, giving him a team-leading 44 for the season. Academic all-American Bryan Day has 43.

Nose tackle Dave Dunn also had 10 tackles, including 3 sacks for minus 25 yards. In all, USD recorded 12 sacks for minus 91 yards. For the season, the Toreros are allowing just 115 passing yards per game.

“It will take a good game for us to beat them,” Fogarty said. “We match up well with them in some areas, but the biggest thing they don’t do that we do is turn the ball over. We have to be better on offense.”