Sept. 10, 2011
Box Score | Photo Gallery
(San Diego, CA) - The USD Toreros improved to 2-0 on the season with tonight's hard fought 30-10 victory over the visiting Western New Mexico Mustangs (1-1) before 3,198 fans at Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium. Quarterback Mason Mills connected with freshman receiver Brandon White for two scores and junior CB Ryan Costa paced the defense with an 88-yard interception return for a score in the first period. The Toreros look to continue their winning ways next Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. contest at UC Davis.
USD jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and that score held into their halftime break. Mills connected with White for a 24-yard scoring play that culminated a 7-play, 67 yard drive just 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the contest. Following USD's opening drive for a score, each team went three-and-out. On their second possession of the game, WNMU was driving and following an 18-yard rush by QB David Ingram, faced a 1st-and-10 from USD's 22. Ingram's next pass was picked off by Ryan Costa at the 12-yard line and he returned it all the way back for an 88-yard TD to push USD's lead to 14-0.
Neither team scored in the 2nd quarter, and both teams traded field goals in the 3rd period with USD kicker Ernie Collins converting on a 30-yarder with 8:41 left that completed a 13-play, 65 yard drive over 4:16. On the first play of the fourth quarter, USD's Collins punted for 39 yards and Torero JP Bolwahnn forced a fumble with a hard hit on WNMU's Salvador Garcia at the visitor 47. Robbie Beathard was there for the fumble recovery. On the team's third play from scrimmage Mills connected with White for his second score of the game, this time from 42 yards out and a 23-3 advantage.
Kenny James closed out USD's scoring with a 7-yard TD run with 4:58 to go. The Toreros combined for 8 plays for 90 yards on the drive with James rushing for 70 yards on 4 carries paced by his 47-yard scamper on a 1st-and-10 from the Torero 37. The Mustangs closed out the game's scoring with 3:10 to go as Ingram tossed a 19-yarder to Daveon Barner to complete a 6-play, 72 yard drive.
For the game the Toreros totaled 392 yards of offense to WNMU's 379. Mills finished 18-for-28 for 221 yards and 2 scores. White led seven different Torero receivers with 7 catches for 119 yards and 2 scores. Kenny James led the ground attack with 90 yards on 12 carries and 1 score. Phil Morelli added 55 yards on 12 rushes, and JP Bolwahnn chipped in with 6 rushes for 15 yards.
Defensively Ryan Costa and Jamil Wade each collected interceptions, and senior DE Mario Kurn added 4 solo stops, including 2 sacks (-8 yards) and 3 tackles for loss (-19 yards). Safety Joey York led all Torero defenders with 6 stops.
