AZUSA, Calif. - First year USD coach Ron Caragher is all about seizing opportunity - and so too is his team. The USD Toreros turned a pair of turnovers into 2 early touchdowns in 20 seconds, and then parlayed an 87-yard kickoff return into another score as USD rolled out to a big lead and then held on to beat Azusa Pacific, 42-32, in Caragher's first game as a collegiate head coach. Redhsirt sophomore QB Andrew Rolin passed for 4 touchdowns and ran in another, and JT Rogan rushed for 118 yards and was on the receiving end of two scores.

"It's nice to get the first one going," said head coach Ron Caragher. "There's no other place I'd rather be. I felt Andrew Rolin did a terrific job tonight in leading this team. He showed a lot of composure and made some excellent reads. We also got some big plays out of JT Rogan, Wes Doyle and John Matthews, and the defense really came ready to play."

Sophomore QB Andrew Rolin, starting in the place of All-American Josh Johnson who was serving a 1-game suspension for violating team rules, excelled in his first collegiate start, completing 12-of-16 passes for 177 yards and 4 TDs, including a 59-yard strike to John Matthews on the Toreros' first play of the second half that put USD up 35-3 at the time.

All-conference RB J.T. Rogan rushed for 118 yards on 23 carries and had 3 receptions for 36 yards, including 2 that went for touchdown tosses from Rolin.

Azusa Pacific appeared to be headed toward the game's first touchdown, turning a USD muffed punt into a scoring opportunity with the ball inside the Torero 10-yard line. However, consecutive mistakes turned what should have been a Cougar lead into back-to-back Torero touchdowns in a matter of just 20 seconds.

On third and goal at the Torero 9, Cougar QB Rudy Carlton was hurried into a careless pass that Torero FS Patrick O'Neill picked off and returned 93 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuring kickoff, Torero Jason Blake drilled Azusa Pacific kick returner Monti Sutton, who dropped the ball at the Cougar 18-yard line where USD's Tyler Evans pounced loose ball. On the next play, Rolin hit Rogan on a swing pass that Rogan took to the end zone for a 14-0 USD advantage.

Following a Ben Hansen's 24-yard field goal for Azusa Pacific to make it 14-3, Rogan took the ensuing kickoff 87 yards in the opposite direction to set up San Diego's third score, a Rolin 12-yard pass to Rogan for another touchdown on the second play of the second quarter.

"The way we look at things around here is all about the system," said Andrew Rolin. "I've got good players surrounding me so that's we we are successful. I've got to give it up to everyone for this one. It was a good win for our team."

Midway through the second quarter, USD sustained its only drive of the first half, moving 57 yards on 11 plays, capped by Rolin's third-down 1-yard push into the end zone to give the Toreros a 28-3 halftime lead.

The Matthews touchdown early in the third quarter, which simply was a short Rolin pass over the middle that Matthews took the final 51 yards to the house untouched, allowed Caragher to empty the bench for the fourth quarter, which may have been too soon.

Azusa Pacific made the game somewhat interesting by scoring 3 touchdowns in less than 3 minutes to pull to within 10 at 42-32 with just 2 minutes remaining to play. That forced Caragher to put his first unit back into the game to run out the clock and secure the victory.

The Torero defense had some solid performances turned in by LB Ronnie Pentz (9 tackles), DE Matt Shearer (9 tackles), DE Eric Bakhtiari (5 tackles, 1 sack, and constant pressure all night on the APU quarterback), corner Ben Hannula (8 tackles; terrific job covering WR Jon Davis), free safety Patrick O'Neill (6 tackles, 93-yard interception return for a TD), LB Tyler Evans (6 stops) and DL Chris Gianelli (5 tackles with 4 solo stops, 1 forced fumble).

With the win San Diego is now 1-0 while Azusa Pacific falls to 0-2. USD's home opener is Saturday, Sept. 8th, when they host Marist College at 6 pm. The Toreros will be gunning for their 20th straight home win.