Toreros to Face Menlo in Finale

The University of San Diego ends its season, and its NCAA Division III affiliation, with a 1:30 p.m. game at Menlo College today.

In their final year in the division, the Toreros (6-2-1), who will move to Division I-AA and the new Pioneer League next year, had hoped to make the NCAA playoffs, but losses to Redlands and Occidental curtailed the effort.

Instead, the Toreros will focus on other team and individual goals today. USD has posted seven victories in each of the past three seasons and today has the chance to make it four.

Individually, senior fullback Scott Sporrer, who broke the career rushing record earlier in the season, is 171 yards shy of a single-season rushing record and can easily break the career and single-season carries records with 16 and one, respectively.

Sophomore punter Robert Ray will try to maintain 41.8 punting average, second best in Division III, in the Menlo game.

With 24 catches, sophomore tight end Scott Steingrebe has the most receptions by a Torero since 1986, when Jeff Mansukhani had 49.

Menlo (3-4) had a bye last week--USD’s is next week--but lost three consecutive games before that.

“This year’s team is typical of the normal Menlo team, playing at the .500 level,” USD Coach Brian Fogarty said. “They are usually a very good defensive team, and this year is no exception. On offense, they rely on the big play.”