Sept. 20, 2003
Box Score
For the second straight week the USD Toreros (2-1)excelled on both sides of the ball as they handed the visiting La Verne Leopards (0-2) a 45-7 setback. The Toreros were coming off of last week's 54-7 road victory over Davidson. Freshman RB Evan Harney (Fallbrook, CA) exploded for 215 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries. The 215 yards matched the third-best rushing performance by a Torero - he tied Jermaine Rucker's total against Valparaiso in the 1993 season. He tallied TD rushes of 1 yard (1st quarter), 18 yards (2nd quarter) and 3 yards (3rd quarter).
Senior QB Eric Rasmussen completed 14-of-20 passes for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns - he found sophomore WR Nick Garton twice for scores. Garton finished with 5 catches for 85 yards and TD scores of 32 yards (1st quarter) and 20 yards (3rd quarter). Sophomore WR Adam Hannula led the team with 6 catches, good for 74 yards. Senior Brent Labarrere hauled in Rasmussen's third TD, a 24 yarder with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Senior kicker Adam Williams nailed a 32-yard FG early in the 2nd quarter for USD's other score.
Defensively the Toreros held La Verne to 212 yards of offense (62 rushing)with Phil Bretsch leading the way with 8 tackles. Senior Gavin Ng blocked an Ian Britt 43-yard field goal attempt just before half to send the Toreros into the lockeroom with a 31-0 advantage. Torero head coach Kevin McGarry was able to get plenty of action for his players as nearly 60 Toreros saw action tonight. Senior offensive lineman Josh Elkins, who overcame numerous injuries from a near-fatal automobile accident in the Fall of 1998, saw action late in the contest for the first time since late in the 2001 campaign when he got in for one play against Georgetown.
Following Bretsch in tackles were five players with 4 tackles each - Kyle Fitzgerald, Paul Kumer, Adam Combs, Joe Maietta and Ashur Benjamin. Offensively USD totaled 507 yards of offense (270 rushing, 237 passing). The Toreros return to Torero Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 27th, to take on Holy Cross in a 7 pm contest.
