Sept. 25, 2010
Final Stats
SAN DIEGO, Calif.- The University of San Diego football team defeated visiting Butler University 24-0 Saturday night at Torero Stadium in both teams' Pioneer Football League opener. With the win the Toreros improve to 1-3 overall and 1-0 in PFL play, while Butler drops to 2-2 and 0-1 in the conference.
The Toreros saw the benefits of their challenging non-conference schedule, where they matched up against two scholarship opponents in consecutive weeks, pay off as they controlled both sides of the ball most of the night, holding Butler to 91 total yards of offense to the Toreros' 356.
"The non-conference games, we want to win those and coming out of them winless was a tough pill to swallow, but you hope that you become a better football team," said head coach Ron Caragher after the win. "It's going to get tougher in Pioneer Football League play but I'm just proud of our guys and the energy on the sidelines that's so important helped our defense swarm the football and our offense execute, which is what we need to do to be successful."
USD got on the board after running back Phil Morelli punched in a one-yard run to cap off a ten-play, 68-yard drive by the Toreros to open up the second quarter. Prior to the Morelli score, quarterback Mason Mills connected with tight end Patrick Doyle for a 28-yard reception that got USD to the Butler 12 yard line and helped set up the touchdown run.
On the ensuing Butler possession, Torero defensive lineman Mario Kurn swatted the ball out of Butler quarterback Andrew Huck's hand as he attempted a pass, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Levor Ross at the Butler 25 yard line. After four consecutive rushing plays, USD kicker Stan Shurson hit a 19-yard field goal with 7:27 left in the half to give USD a 10-0 advantage.
On USD's second possession of the second half, Mills found Godfrey Smith for a 46-yard pass completion where Smith weaved through the Bulldog defense after the catch to get the Toreros down to the Butler 23 yard line. Five plays later Morelli found the end zone on a three-yard carry for his second touchdown of the game, putting USD up 17-0.
The Toreros capped off their scoring with 12:51 left in the game when Mills, scrambling to his right on the Butler six yard line, found Reggie Bell streaking across the back of the end zone for the score.
Mills ended the game with 198 yards passing on 18 completions in 22 attempts and a touchdown, while Morelli churned out 101 yards rushing on 21 attempts, including a long run of 25 yards where he broke four tackles and carried a pair of Butler defenders across midfield in the fourth quarter, while also leading the team in receptions, with four for 34 yards.
Safety Loka Kanongataa, playing in his first game of the season, led the Toreros in tackles with 10, including five tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. Kurn disrupted the Butler offense all night, recording seven tackles and three sacks, making him the national FCS leader in sacks on the season with 13 in four games.
Huck completed 12 of 22 passes for 74 yards, while Zach Watkins led the Bulldogs with seven catches for 43 yards on the night.
The shutout marks the Toreros' first since a 37-0 win over Drake in 2006.
USD returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 2nd, when they travel to face Jacksonville at 9:00 a.m. PT.
