Aug. 29, 2008
Final Stats
(San Diego, CA) - The USD Toreros opened up their 2008 campaign in fine fashion as they tallied a hard-fought 40-22 victory against the visiting Marist Red Foxes before 3,488 fans at Torero Stadium. The win extended USD's home field winning streak to 25 games, and improved its series mark against Marist to 4-0. First year quarterback Seb Trujillo played well in his Torero debut completing 16-of-23 passes for 191 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Torero defense played hard throughout the evening and came up with some big plays as red-shirt freshman linebacker Loka Kanongatta led the way with a game-high 13 tackles.
USD got on the scoreboard first as Trujillo found senior running back J.T. Rogan for a 29-yard TD connection for an early 7-0 lead three minutes into the game. Marist would answer with a 2-yard TD run by Bo Ehikioya, and a Kevin Pauly 35-yard field goal to lead 9-7 at the end of the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, J.T. Rogan returned the ball 36 yards to the USD 41-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage he bolted 37 yards up field to the Marist 22. It was at this point that he went down hard on his own attempting to make a cut for additional yards. He left the game with a left knee injury and would not return. With Rogan giving USD great field position, USD would rush five more times before Trujillo connected with WR John Matthews for a 2-yard score and 13-9 advantage with 11:12 left in the 2nd quarter. Trujillo's third TD, an 8-yard pass to tight end Mitch Ryan gave the Toreros a 20-9 halftime lead.
The lone score of the third quarter came from fifth-year senior Ben Hannula taking a handoff from Trujillo, then throwing a perfect 42-yard pass to Matthews up the right side for a commanding 27-9 advantage. Marist would open up the 4th quarter with Ehikioya's second TD rush, this time from 16 yards, but USD would score back-to-back touchdowns to put the game away. Hannula was on the receiving end this time hauling in a 33-yarder from Trujillo, and first year running back Phil Morelli jumped on a loose ball in the endzone following Loka Kanongatta's blocked punt attempt by Marist.
For the game the Toreros totaled 374 yards of offense (141 rushing, 233 passing). In his one quarter of action, Rogan rushed 3 times for 46 yards, caught a 29-yard TD and returned one kickoff for 36 yards. Morelli filled in nicely for Rogan, finishing with 64 yards on 17 carries. Matthews caught 4 balls for 63 yards and 2 scores, while Hannula caught 4 balls for 51 yards. Besides Kanongatta, the Toreros received solid defensive play from safety Ryan Echer (6 tackles), LB Derek Marten (6 tackles, 1 interception), senior DT Chris Gianelli (4 tackles) and freshman backer Joe Martin (2 tackles, 1 interception).
It's bittersweet," said USD head coach Ron Caragher. "Every win is exciting and fun. But losing a great USD Torero (J.T. Rogan) - maybe the best offensive player in the Pioneer Football League - it's tough."
USD returns home next Saturday, Sept. 6th, to face the Azusa Pacific Cougars in a 6 pm contest.
