USD Suffers Worst Loss Since 1975 : Toreros: A brief 3-0 lead fades to a 51-3 defeat to UC Santa Barbara.

For the first seven minutes Saturday, the University of San Diego had a three-point lead and temporary control of a bigger UC Santa Barbara team.

Then things got ugly.

UCSB scored the final 51 points for a 51-3 route in front of approximately 1,200 in Goleta.

It equalled USD’s worst defeat, a 48-0 loss to Cal State Northridge in 1975, and was the most points allowed by a USD team since a 56-20 loss to Northridge in 1977. The loss dropped the Toreros to 6-2 and possibly out of contention for an NCAA Division III playoff berth. UCSB won its fifth in a row to improve to 6-2. USD was the only Division III opponent this season for UC Santa Barbara, which is converting to Division II next year.

After Dave Bergmann’s 22-yard field goal gave USD a 3-0 lead, UCSB quarterback Steve Armstrong went to work. The senior from Westlake Village completed 19 of 26 passes for 272 yards in the first half as the Gauchos took a 24-3 lead. He finished 23 of 34 for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

John Ace, a Valhalla High graduate, caught seven passes for 136 yards and a touchdown in the first half and finished with eight receptions for 144 yards.

The Gauchos out gained USD, 462 to 278 yards.

The lone bright moment for USD was fullback Todd Jackson becoming the Toreros’ career rushing leader. With 46 yards on 15 carries, Jackson’s 2,026 yards tops the mark of Joe Henry (2,011 in 1977-81).