By, Nick Mirkovich
Oct 11, 2003
Box Score
San Diego, CA- Eric Rasmussen had another 300-yard passing game and Nick Garton racked up 141 receiving yards Saturday afternoon as San Diego held off Drake 41-35 extending its winning streak to five. Adam Hannula hauled in a 31-yard pass reception with 1 minute remaining to insure the win for San Diego (5-1, 1-0 Pioneer League).
Rasmussen, who already owns San Diego's school record for passing yards (5,887), established himself as USD's career leader in completions (427) and touchdown passes (61), connecting on 23-of-35 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns on Saturday.
"That's what great players do," said San Diego head coach Kevin McGarry about his senior quarterback. "They set records and Eric Rasmussen is a great player."
Rasmussen would set the school completion record on a game-clinching pass play in the game's waning moments. Facing fourth down on their own 35-yard line with a 41-35 advantage, McGarry opted to go for the first down instead of punting the ball away.
"We thought about punting but they would have rushed all eleven guys," said McGarry. "More than likely that kick would have had no touch on it and finds the end zone. So instead of opting for a fifteen yard advantage, we went for the win."
Despite being blanketed by Drake cornerback Jace Dennison, Adam Hannula came up with a diving catch down the Torero sideline. Hannula's game icing reception was one of his seven receptions for 101 yards.
"San Diego did a great job in the last play of the game," commented Drake head coach Rob Ashe. "Rasmussen put it right on the money and the receiver made a great catch."
Drake (3-4, 0-1 Pioneer League) rallied after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter. Bulldog quarterback Connor Jostes, who threw for a career-high 398 yards, connected with wide out Jason Jones on a 33-yard touchdown pass to pull Drake to within 14-7 with 10:58 remaining in the second quarter.
Rasmussen orchestrated a pair of quick scoring drives later in the second quarter to put San Diego in front 28-14 at halftime. Nick Garton scored with 30 seconds remaining in the first half, catching one of his five balls for a 21-yard touchdown.
Drake posted a pair of unanswered scores to open the second half. With 12:29 left in the third quarter Jostes and Jones hooked up again, a 58-yard strike to pull Drake to within seven at 28-21. On third and one from their own 23 yard line, Bulldog tailback Jon Taylor busted through an eight-man San Diego defensive front, out-running all would-be defenders for a game tying 77-yard touchdown.
Moments after Taylor evened the score at 28, Rasmussen led and the Toreros on a 65-yard scoring drive on four plays, culminated by a 26-yard pass play to Brent Labarrere.
"We did a great job stopping the run," said Ashe. "We wanted to put San Diego in a position to be one dimensional. We did not want to get beat by the running game so you have to take your hat off to Rasmussen."
The win was significant in the pecking order within the Pioneer Football League's North Division. Valparaiso knocked off perennial league power Dayton on the road 33-28 setting up a first place battle between San Diego and Valparaiso at 1:00 p.m. next Saturday at Valparaiso.
