Redlands Rolls Past the Toreros, 28-7 : Football: USD’s first-half problems follow them into the second half.

No need to fret about the first half anymore.

University of San Diego Coach Brian Fogarty has to concern himself with an hour’s worth of Torero football.

USD’s on-again, off-again offense was mostly off again, this time in a 28-7 loss to the University of Redlands on Saturday night at Torero Stadium.

Going into the game, Fogarty was concerned about an offense that hadn’t scored in the first half in two outings, but had enough spunk to come back for avictory in one, a tie in theother.

This time Redlands’ defense wasn’t about to budge.

“They came in a lot different than us,” said Redlands defensive lineman James Shields, who had five sacks. “They weren’t ready for us.”

Fogarty conceded that the Bulldogs (2-0) were better than USD (1-1-1) had anticipated, but more importantly, the Toreros frittered away early opportunities.

“I don’t believe they’re that much better than us, but a chain of events got us off to a bad start,” Fogarty said.

Case in point: As if to set the tone for the game, Michael Henryfumbled the opening kickoff.It was recovered by Hans Haglund and Redlands took over onUSD’s 24.

As it had in much of the first two games, the Toreros’ defense bailed them out.

USD’s Steven Crandall was a sigh away from an interception on Redlands’ first series, then covered on the next pass play attempt, which forced the Bulldogs to attempt a 28-yard field goal, which lineman Rick Salazar blocked.

Case in point: Midway through the first quarter, the Toreros were poised to score on a 22-yard pass from Michael Bennett to Aaron Pingel, but Bennett was past the line of scrimmage when he threw, and instead of a touchdown,USD had a third-and-seven onthe 25.

On the next play, the Toreros went for the first down on fourth-and-nine at the 27 but Bennett’s run was a yard shy.

Fogarty said the botched chances killed USD’s momentum.

“That’s a big factor,” he said. “That’s when they started moving the ball.”

Redlands Coach Mike Maynard had expressed concern going into the game about the Bulldogs’ game plan.

Needlessly, it turned out.

The running of Chris Smith and Sean Cheatham sufficed.

Smith and Cheatham scored the Bulldogs’ first three touchdowns.

Smith (18 rushes, 97 yards), moved from defensive back last year and scored Redlands’ opening touchdown, a 4-yard run early in the second quarter.

Cheatham (21 rushes, 98 yards), who was a tight end last year, scored on a one-yard run up the middle at 4:24 in the second quarter and later on a 5-yard spurt with 4:47 left in the third.

“(The coaches) just wanted to get me on the field,” Cheatham said. “I guess it worked. The rest is history.”

And so was USD’s running game, which gained only 66 yards on 32 carries. Scott Sporrer, who came into this game with a 105.5-yards-per-game rushing average, was held to 40 yards on nine attempts. He almost caught as many balls as he carried. Sporrer had sevenreceptions for 55 yards, a teamhigh.

“When you’re down 21 points, you can’t do what you usually do,” Fogarty said.

The Toreros’ only score came with 56 seconds left in the third. Vince Moiso, who went in after Bennett was shaken up on the previous play, hit Jamie Guitierrez with a two-yard pass to the left corner of the end zone.

Redlands struck once more in the fourth quarter, on a 62-yard touchdown run by Anthony Jones.

Bennett was 19 of 38 for 201 yards. Redlands quarterbackBrian Harmon was 8 of 13 for128 yards.

USD had six first downs to Redlands’ 11 in the first half, and was outgained 98 to 33rushing yards and 111 to 80 passing.

Torero Notes

So much for playing at home. With Redlands’ victory here Saturday, the visitor has now won in head-to-head competition since 1988. Fogarty is now 5-5 against Redlands and the Bulldogs lead the series, 10-8.