Nov. 22, 2008
Final Stats
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego football team (9-2) ended the 2008 season in stylish fashion, as they stunned UC Davis (5-7), 28-20, in the season-finale Saturday evening at Torero Stadium.
John Matthews had 13 receptions for 163 yards, ending his career by setting the single-season yardage mark at 1,480 and his one touchdown gave him 50 for his career, a USD all-time record. Sebastian Trujillo completed 22-of-40 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns and Phil Morelli led the team in rushing with 78 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown run.
The Aggies wasted no time in scoring as they took the ball on the opening drive right down the field marching 75 yards in 2:00 to score on a Greg Denham 59-yard touchdown pass to Bakri Grant to put Davis up 7-0.
The Toreros responded on their first possession. After a thrilling 36-yard Taylor Wright kick-off return, Trujillo marched USD 44 yards down the field in three plays to even the score at 7-7 on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ben Hannula.
Then with 4:03 to go in the first quarter, San Diego took the lead. Trujillo swung a pass to the left side and into the hands of Patrick Doyle, who then followed his blockers 31-yards down the field and into the end zone to cap off a 83-yard San Diego drive and give USD a 14-7 advantage.
UC Davis then got the ball back with 5:17 remaining on the clock in the first quarter and drove 57 yards to the Toreros nine yard line. But a strong Torero defensive stand forced the Aggies to kick a field goal, allowing the Toreros to take a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
However, UCD would score a touchdown in the second quarter on a 36-yard pass from Denham to Chris Miller to put Davis up 17-14 heading into half time.
In the third quarter, San Diego took the opening drive of the half 82 yards down the field, and a Morelli 22-yard touchdown run put San Diego back in control at 21-17.
After UC Davis scored a field goal in the fourth quarter with 11:34 to go, Trujillo marched the Toreros 40 yards down the field and capped the scoring for the day with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Matthews to put the game at its final of 28-20.
Defensively USD was paced by Gabe Derricks and Fredrick Obi, who each had seven stops. For the game USD totaled 395 yards of offense to UC Davis' 492.
