USD Coach Worried About Keeping Team Up

Shortly after the University of San Diego’s victory over Occidental last Saturday night, USD Coach Brian Fogarty wore a look of two parts joy, one part relief and one part worry.

Joy and relief were understandable after USD’s season-opening 20-12 victory. The Toreros had defeated Occidental for the first time since 1981 and the first time in Fogarty’s eight years at USD.

“This is the kind of game you like to have at the end of the season,” Fogarty said late Saturday. “It’s the kind of game you want to enjoy for awhile. But we’ve got to get to work on Claremont early tomorrow morning.”

And that was the worry.

Fogarty is concerned about tonight’s opponent, Claremont College, and whether USD will experience a letdown against a team it defeated, 30-13, last year. Game time is 7:30 at Torero Stadium.

USD has defeated Claremont the past three years and a victory tonight would make Fogarty the winningest coach in USD history. Fogarty’s record is 34-33-2. Bill Williams was 34-36-1 in seven seasons preceding Fogarty.

Claremont, playing its first game of the season, should be better than last year’s 3-6 team. The Stags return 13 starters, including quarterback Brian O’Brien (773 passing yards in three games last year), receiver Tim Bray (40 catches, 595 yards) and running backs Reed Pangborn (542 yards) and Schon Branum (441).

Last year’s game was closer than the score indicated. USD scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to put it away. Quarterback Brendan Murphy had one of his best games, rushing for 98 yards and a touchdown and passing for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Against Occidental, USD had 312 yards rushing, including 146 by Charlie Taumoepeau and 61 by John Eck.

The defense, which gave up 206 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, yielded only 80 yards and no points in the final 30 minutes.

“We expected them to handle us physically, and they did early,” Fogarty said. “But we were able to stop them when we had to.”