Oct. 9, 2004
Final Stats
The USD football team (2-4; 0-1 PFL) battled the Drake Bulldogs (4-2; 1-0 PFL) from start to finish, but came up on the short end in a 41-38 PFL loss at Drake Stadium before 5,255 fans. Drake's Daniel Marx caught a 21-yard pass from QB Connor Jostes with 3:38 to go for the game-winning score. The Toreros, down 34-28 heading into the final quarter, took a 38-34 lead with 8:21 to go with Todd Mortensen hitting WR Adam Hannula for a 33 yard score. San Diego's John Koker had a 44-yard field goal attempt go wide right with 20 seconds remaining that could have sent the game into overtime. USD returns to Torero Stadium next Saturday to take on Valparaiso at 1:30 p.m. in its annual Homecoming Game.
Drake opened the scoring two minutes into the game when Michael Bialas scored on a 3-yard run. The Toreros evened the score at 7-all on Evan Harney's first of two rushing TDs from 2 yards out at the 7:53 mark. Drake closed out the 1st quarter leading 14-7 as RB Scott Phaydavong scored from 5 yards out that culminated a 13 play, 80 yard drive. Phaydavong would finish the day with 209 yards rushing and 2 TDs on 26 carries.
The Toreros outscored the Bulldogs 14-6 in the 2nd quarter to take a 21-20 intermission lead. Harney busted in from 1-yard out at the 6:58 mark and WR Michael Gasperson caught the first of two TDs from 28 yards out with 1:19 to go. Drake's Phaydavong scored his 2nd TD at the 4:58 mark on a 43 yard burst. The PAT kick was blocked by the Toreros.
USD jumped out to a 28-20 lead at the 11:29 mark of the 3rd period as Mortensen connected with Gasperson again, this time from 12 yards out that completed an 8 play, 80-yard drive. Drake would close out the 3rd quarter on rushing TDs by Michael Bialas (1 yard) and QB Connor Jostes (2 yards) for the 34-28 advantage.
In the final period USD kicker Hutch Parker nailed a 32 yard FG to pull the Toreros to within 3 at 34-31, then Mortensen connected with Adam Hannula for his 33 yard score for the 38-34 advantage with 8:21 to go. Drake would put the game away 5 minutes later on the Marx TD.
For the game USD totaled 467 yards on 67 plays, and Drake would edge them out with 478 yards on 69 plays. Evan Harney finished with 119 yards rushing and 2 TDs on 30 carries. Mortensen completed 21-of-33 passes for 347 yards and 3 TDs. Hannula was the team's leading receiver with 5 catches for 123 yards, and Gasperson added 5 receptions for 94 yards. Defensively the Toreros were paced by safety Scott Cooper (13 tackles), linebacker Kyson Hawkins (9 tackles), DB Ronnie Pentz (7 tackles) and LB Jeff Langdon (7 tackles, 1 interception).
