USD, Azusa Match Up Well Today : College football: Teams’ strengths will collide today when the Toreros play at Azusa Pacific.

The University of San Diego knows that Azusa Pacific quarterback Brian Hunt is averaging 291 yards and 25 completions per game.

Azusa Pacific, on the other hand, is familiar with the fact that the USD defense is yielding only 133.8 passing yards per game and has intercepted 13 passes this season.

Strengths collide at 1:30 this afternoon at Azusa Pacific, as both schools hope to finish the season 7-2.

For USD, that would equal its record of a year ago, its best since 1981 when the Toreros finished 9-1. The NCAA Division III playoffs, however, are probably out of the question. Redlands (7-1) all but wrapped up the West Coast bid with a 52-14 rout of Occidental last week.

USD is coming off a bye after defeating Menlo College, 28-14, in Atherton two weeks ago. Senior Dave Bergmann, the top Division III kicker in the nation last year, kicked three field goals in that game and needs one more to tie Robert Lozzi (1981-83) for USD’s career record (27).

Quarterback Brendan Murphy completed 14 of 26 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown against Menlo. Murphy has yet to throw an interception in 134 attempts this season. He had 10 last year in 99 attempts. The school record for fewest passes intercepted in a season is four, set in 1980 by Steve Loomis

Azusa Pacific, ranked 24th in NAIA Division II, is coming off a 27-23 loss to UC Santa Barbara last week despite compiling 534 yards of offense. Derick Williams, a freshman wide receiver, is second on the team with 27 catches for 318 yards. Brandon Leafblad has 33 catches for 394 yards. USD defeated the Cougars, 24-6, in last year’s season opener, but trails in the series 14-9.

“Physically, they are a little better than us in the skill positions,” USD Coach Brian Fogarty said.