Fogarty Hopes USD Stays Error-Tight Against Menlo

It nearly happened last week. University of San Diego quarterback Brendan Murphy dropped back to pass, escaped pressure twice and, trying to unload the football to avoid a sack, almost threw an interception, the ball falling in and out of the hands of a diving Whittier defender.

It would have been Murphy’s first interception of the year, which is one of the reasons USD is 5-2 and assured of its fourth consecutive winning season. The Toreros have only one game remaining after facing Menlo College at 1:30 p.m. today in Atherton.

With Murphy--who has completed 55% of 108 attempts--guiding the wing-T offense, USD just does not make many mistakes that routinely cost teams games; a plus-10 turnover ratio attests to that.

The offense has not, in Coach Brian Fogarty’s words, “set the world on fire” either, but it has produced just enough sparks to win consistently. That is normally all it takes with the Toreros’ defense.

That unit, led by defensive backs Dave Paladino (team-leading 65 tackles and three interceptions) and Darryl Jackson (three interceptions) and linebacker Lenny Territo (63 tackles, including three sacks), has 12 interceptions and has limited opponents to 13 points and 250 yards per game.

“Our defense has really been outstanding, especially our secondary,” Fogarty said.

Last week, in a 16-3 victory against winless Whittier, the defense had its best statistical game of the season, allowing only 138 total yards, 97 after the Poets’ opening drive, which gave Whittier a 3-0 lead. USD had six sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt. It almost had another blocked punt, but Whittier punter Rich Bernard ducked a charging Jackson and tucked the ball away for a 24-yard gain, the Poets’ biggest play from scrimmage in the game.

Fogarty expects Menlo to be similar to Whittier in style, but much better in execution. Menlo, a Division III independent, is 5-2, after shutting out Azusa Pacific, 27-0, last week. Two of the Oaks’ victories have come against Division II teams. USD defeated Menlo last year, 31-19, for the first time in four games. Menlo had to forfeit a victory over USD in 1988.