Improved La Verne Is Next Up for Toreros : College football: USD (5-2) faces Leopards, 5-1 under their first-year coach, Rex Huigens.

Victories and losses have come in pairs this fall for the University of San Diego football team.

Dave Bergmann, who wears No. 2, could play a key role in making sure the sequence is snapped tonight when the Toreros (4-2) play La Verne (5-1) at 7:30 in the first of three consecutive home games at Torero Stadium.

USD opened the season with two victories, then had two one-point losses, followed by one-sided victories the past two weeks. USD needs to win its final four games to have a shot at the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Bergmann, a senior from Seattle, is the most prolific kicker in USD history. His USD records include:

* Most field goals in a game--four.

* Most field goals in a season--14.

* Most career field goals--33.

* Longest field goal--53 yards.

* Most points in a career--152.

After struggling early with the narrower distance between goal posts, Bergmann has made six of his last eight field goal attempts. His 53-yarder two weeks ago would have been good from 60-plus yards.

Unlike recent years, a field goal or two could be the difference against La Verne.

USD has won the past four meetings by a combined 110-38, but the Leopards are a much different team this year under first-year Coach Rex Huigens. He replaces Roland Ortmayer, who retired after last season with a record of 190-186-6 over 43 years. Ortmayer never scouted opponents, watched films, called plays or did much in terms of recruiting. Things are starting to change under Huigens.

After opening with a 27-20 loss to Redlands, La Verne has won its past five games by an average score of 27-7.

“They’re talented,” Bergmann said. “They haven’t always been the most disciplined team in the past. But now that they’re starting to do some of those things other teams do, they’re starting to show that talent.

“They could sting us. They’re tough. It definitely could come down to a field goal. Hopefully, we’ll be putting it in the end zone every time and beat them that way. But if it comes down to a field goal, great. We’ll take that, too.”

Bergmann (6-feet-1, 200 pounds) also plays wide receiver in the Toreros’ run-oriented wing-T offense.

“I’m not real quick,” he said. “I don’t have Division I receiver skills, that’s for sure.”

He may have NFL kicking skills, however.

“There have been a few (NFL) people who have taken a look at him,” USD Coach Brian Fogarty said. “It all remains to be seen, but if he finishes up strong, he may get a shot. He’s realistic about it. I think he’d like to have an opportunity to try out for an NFL team, but at the same time he knows it’s a long shot.”

Said Bergmann: “If the opportunity arose, I would have to try. But I haven’t heard anything. I have no idea what my chances are. Right now, I’m just concentrating on this season and beating La Verne.”