Oct. 31, 2009
Final Stats
Dayton, OH - Despite a 14-7 lead at halftime, the University of San Diego Toreros could not hold on to the lead in the end, falling to the Dayton Flyers by a score of 21-14 on Saturday at Welcome Stadium. Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino scored all three of the Flyers' touchdowns, including a one-yard rush in the beginning of the fourth quarter to seal the game.
San Diego entered halftime after scoring a touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half, but they quickly surrendered the first of Dayton's two second-half touchdowns on the Flyers' first drive. Valentino, who accounted for 292 of Dayton's 378 total yards on offense, scored with a rushing touchdown from 15 yards out to tie the game with 11:15 remaining in the third quarter.
San Diego's offense was unable to generate any scoring on their five drives in the second half, as they punted the ball twice, turned the ball over on downs twice, and terminated a drive with an interception. The Toreros (3-5, 2-4 PFL) now find themselves in the midst of a three-game losing streak, having lost five games in a single season for the first time since 2002.
With the win, Dayton (7-1, 5-0 PFL) remains in a tie for first place in the PFL with Drake and Butler, both of whom the Flyers will play over their next two games.
San Diego appeared to have Dayton under their control in the first half, behind a stout defense and impressive play by quarterback, and first-time starter, Bo Stompro. Stompro, a true freshman who entered the season with plans to redshirt, found wide receiver Kyle Warren for an 82-yard touchdown pass with 9:21 remaining in the second quarter, placing the Toreros in the lead 7-0.
The Toreros defense prevented the Flyers from scoring on the subsequent drive, holding Dayton to turn the ball over on downs after a failed fourth-down conversion on San Diego's 13-yard line. The red-zone stop was the second of the first half for the Toreros, as the defense forced a Dayton fumble on their own seven-yard line in the first quarter.
The San Diego offense was quickly forced into a three-and-out, however, giving the ball back to Dayton. Valentino led Dayton to their first touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive, throwing an 11-yard pass to Nick Collins to tie the game at 7-7.
Following a kickoff return by JT Rogan that gave the Toreros decent field position at their own 46-yard line, the San Diego offense answered with a touchdown, an 8-yard completion between Stompro and John McGough, with ten seconds remaining in the first half. The score was set up by Rogan, who scrambled for a 45-yard run and brought the Toreros inside Dayton's 10-yard line.
Rogan went on to lead the Toreros in rushing with 130 yards on 27 attempts. Stompro was 12-for-24 in the air for San Diego, throwing for 169 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Eric Fiege led all Toreros with five receptions, totaling 41 yards.
San Diego will return home next week, where they will take on Davidson (2-6, 2-4 PFL) on November 7th. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT.
