USD Turns First-Half Futility Into Second-Half Success

University of San Diego, frustrated in the first half when its offense stalled three times inside the 20-yard line, scored 22 second-half points Saturday en route to a 28-14 victory over Menlo College in Atherton.

The victory for the Toreros (6-2) may have been the most satisfying of the season, because it came against a team that had beaten two Division II opponents and was ranked in the top 10 in the Division III Western Region. It was the first victory in three attempts on the road against the Oaks (5-3) for USD, which has a chance to equal its 7-2 record of a year ago.

“This is just a great team effort,” Toreros Coach Brian Fogarty said.

But in the first half, getting in the end zone was an exercise in futility for USD’s offense. Fortunately for the Toreros, the their defense bought them some time by making some big plays and scoring some points to trigger the big second half.

With the game tied, 6-6, early in the third quarter, USD’s offense broke down for the third time deep in Oaks territory, this time on the 10. The drive resulted in a 32-yard field goal by Dave Bergmann, his third of the game to give USD a 9-6 lead.

Then two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Torero safety Darby Barrett intercepted a bad pass by Menlo’s Greg Clark and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. USD led, 15-6, after Bergmann’s extra-point kick failed.

The Oaks pulled to within 15-12 when Clark capped an eight-play, 64-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to Matt Moseley on the first play of the fourth quarter. But Darryl Jackson kept Menlo from cutting the lead to two when he blocked the extra point.

That seemed to give the Torero offense the lift it needed. Fueled by a 54-yard kick return by Fallbrook High alumnus Greg Frinell and a crucial roughing-the-passer penalty on fourth down, USD’s offense produced its first touchdown on a 10-yard run by fullback Scott Sporrer.

Then after the defense forced a Menlo punt, the Toreros used 11 plays and five minutes to march 49 yards and score again, this time on a seven-yard pass from Brendan Murphy to tight end Mike Hintze. That gave USD a 28-12 lead with 6:16 left.

“The key for us was the second half, when we were able to run the ball on them,” Fogarty said. “We got them on their heels a bit, and it opened up our passing game. It was nice to finally get the ball in the end zone.”