Victory Gives USD a Chance at Playoffs

The University of San Diego had a number of available excuses had it lost Saturday to Azusa Pacific in its final regular-season football game.

Instead, USD prevailed, 21-10, despite the circumstances.

For starters, USD was missing a number of them because of injuries. Two offensive and defensive line starters were out. In their places were three freshmen--Bobby Tubbs, Kevin Barres and Victor Cruz--and the Toreros’ punter, senior John Gillis, who started at nose guard.

Azusa Pacific, ranked 24th in the NAIA Division II, had advantages in size and quickness, not to mention a home crowd of about 2,000.

Furthermore, USD committed a number of uncharacteristic mistakes.

But quarterback Brendan Murphy and 10 other seniors were determined to go out winners. Murphy, a four-year starter from Mission Viejo via the West Point Prep Academy, told himself and his teammates all week, “I just cannot see myself going out on a losing note. We’re going to win this game.”

And that they did, finishing 7-2 for the second year in a row. Azusa Pacific finished 6-3. USD has an outside shot at an NCAA Division III playoff berth and will find out today or Monday if it has been selected. Torero Coach Brian Fogarty, who is a member of the playoff committee, said before the game that a number of teams would have to lose for USD to be considered.

After the game, Fogarty was a bit more optimistic: “If a couple of them lose, then they’ll throw a couple of us into the pot. This was an impressive win for us.”

Murphy, as he has done all year, did his part, completing seven of 15 passes for 108 yards and directing an offense that amassed 410 total yards.

Scott Sporrer, a sophomore fullback, rushed 21 times for a career-high 159 yards, including touchdowns of one and 39 yards. He led the Toreros this season with 568 yards. Senior Ty Barksdale added 79 yards in 15 carries.

The defense, as it has been all season, set the tone, limiting high-powered Azusa Pacific to 313 yards. Quarterback Brian Hunt threw for 219 yards, but that was 71 yards below his season average. Hunt, who hyperextended his throwing-hand thumb, left the game with 3:03 left in the third quarter. His replacement, Mike Salazar, was zero for seven.

USD marched 78 yards in eight plays on its second possession of the game to go ahead, 7-0, Barksdale scoring on a three-yard sweep. USD then had two opportunities to increase the lead but mistakes cost them. After Scott Bradley made a spectacular interception at the Cougar 37, USD failed to get a first down, giving up the ball on downs.

Azusa Pacific then drove 70 yards in 15 plays to tie the score on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Hunt to Dan Mitchell.

On the ensuing possession, USD had a third and two at the Cougar five, but Murphy’s pass to an open Sporrer in the end zone was tipped and then intercepted by Jason Wyatt, who returned it 42 yards, setting up a 48-yard field goal by Jim Petrotta that gave Azusa Pacific a 10-7 lead.

It was Murphy’s first intercepted pass in 11 games dating to last season.

USD scored on its first drive in the second half to go ahead for good, 14-10. Sporrer’s 39-yard touchdown run, his longest, he said, since his junior year in high school, ended the scoring with 1:17 left.