Nov. 8, 2008

Final Stats

(Davidson, NC) - The host Davidson Wildcats jumped out to a commanding 21-0 lead over the Toreros at the end of the first quarter, but San Diego battled back for a solid 28-24 victory. The win snapped USD's two-game skid and improved their season mark to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the Pioneer Football League. Quarterback Sebastian Trujillo completed 22-of-27 passes for 265 yards and 3 TDs, and added the game-winning score on the ground with 8:51 to go in the game. Senior WR John Matthews was on the receiving end of all three touchdown passes, and finished the day with 11 catches for 140 yards. He set two more USD single season records - he now has 18 receiving TDs, passing by his 16 from a year ago; and he has 75 receptions with two games to go, passing by Adam Hannula's and Wes Doyle's mark of 73.

Davidson's Justin Williams returned the opening kickoff of the game 98 yards for a 7-0 lead, and Wildcat QB Ryan Alexander tossed touchdowns of 7 & 2 yards for the 21-0 lead. USD closed out the 2nd quarter with back-to-back touchdown strikes from Trujillo to Matthews (24, 28 yards) to pull USD to within 21-14 at intermission.

"They jumped out to 21-0 so fast, we knew we had a lot of time left," said head coach Ron Caragher. "I kept reminding our guys that we're a good football team. We have a good game plan, so don't panic, stick with our plan, and run our balanced offense and take what they give us. Today was a game of momentum changes, and we had some big runs in the 2nd quarter, as well as stretches in the 2nd half. Derek's interception in the final quarter was big for us."

The Toreros knotted the score at 21-all in the 3rd period when Trujillo capped off an 8-play, 57 yard drive with a 9 yard pass to Matthews. With 2:19 left in the third period, Davidson settled for a 24-yard field goal by Ben Behrendt for the 24-21 lead. Following the ensuing kickoff, USD went 16 plays and 63 yards with Trujillo sneaking in from 1-yard out on a 4th-and-goal attempt.

Davidson started their final drive from their own 31-yard line and marched down to the USD 15-yard line and were threatening to retake the lead. On a 2nd and 10 from the 15, USD's Derek Pilkington intercepted Alexander's pass on the 11-yard line and returned it 45 yards to the Davidson 44. USD was able to run out the clock from there.

Besides Trujillo and Matthews, USD got a big game from freshman running back Matt Jelmini who netted 133 yards on 25 carries. Defensively USD was paced by Fredrick Obi (8 stops), Pilkington (6 stops, 1 interception), Loka Kanongataa (6 stops) and ILB Derek Marten (3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception). For the game USD totaled 416 yards of offense to Davidson's 322.