Oct. 11, 2014 Box Score | Photo Gallery
(San Diego, Calif.) - USD sophomore running back Jonah Hodges rushed for 273 yards and 2 scores on just 17 carries in leading the Toreros (4-1, 2-1 PFL) to a 31-23 victory over the visiting Stetson Hatters (2-4, 0-2 PFL) before 3,405 homecoming fans at Torero Stadium. Hodges opened the game's scoring with a 53-yard touchdown run on USD's first play of their first possession just 1:49 into the contest. And with the Toreros holding just a 24-23 lead in the final quarter, Hodges busted loose for a 56-yard touchdown run with 8:29 to go for the final 31-23 winning score. He snapped Sammy Croom's long standing mark of 271 set in 1972 against Azusa Pacific.
Redshirt junior quarterback Trey Wheeler was making his first Torero start as he filled in for sophomore QB Keith Williams (injured hand). Wheeler completed 18-of-31 passes for 153 yards and 2 scores. He connected with freshman TE Ross Dwelley with 2:06 left in the half to pull the Toreros to within 16-14 at the intermission break. His biggest completion of the day came with 10:07 to go in the game. Facing a 4th-and-4 from the Stetson 6-yard yard and the team trailing 23-17, the Toreros went for it and Wheeler threaded a pass thru the Stetson defense with Reggie Bell making a fantastic grab in the right corner for the go-ahead score.
After USD took an early 7-0 lead, the early part of the game was marred by Torero turnovers. Stetson took advantage of the miscues and eventually went ahead by the score of 16-7. Hatter QB Ryan Tentler connected with WR Kegan Moore for a 31-yard score that knotted the game at 7-all; Grant Amick kicked a 27-yard field goal; and RB Cole Mazza found the end zone from 3-yards out.
Following intermission the lone score of the third period came from junior kicker David Last on a 28-yard field goal that put USD ahead 17-16. Stetson's Tentler threw his second touchdown of the game with 12:44 to go when he connected with Jonathan Strahl from 2 yards out.
With USD leading 24-23, the Torero defense held the Hatters to a three-and-out that set-up Hodges' final touchdown run. Late in the game the Hatters were moving the ball down the field and got to the Torero 19-yard line. Torero LB Nic Henson hit Stetson RB Dre Long on the 12-yard line and forced a fumble that was scooped up by Joe LaBarbera. USD would eventually punt away and the Hatters would get one more chance with 2:08 to go. Facing a 2nd-and-6 from the Torero 42 yard line, Tentler threw long to the end zone but senior CB Toney Sawyer intercepted in the end zone to close out the threat.
For the game the Toreros totaled 455 yards of offense (302 rush, 153 pass), while the USD defense held the Hatters to 300 yards (179 rush, 121 pass). Besides Hodges and Wheeler, Brandon White pulled down 7 receptions for 65 yards, and Ross Dwelley caught 4 balls for 27 yards and a score. Defensively for USD, Nic Henson totaled a game-high 13 tackles to go with his forced fumble, and Joe LaBarbera was credited with two fumble recoveries. Stetson was paced by QB Ryan Tentler who completed 16-of-28 passes for 121 yards and 2 scores, and added 118 yards rushing on the ground on just 8 carries. Wide receiver Chris Crawford caught 5 balls for 41 yards and Donald Payne chipped in with 10 tackles.
The Toreros were wearing purple game apparel in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. USD hits the road next week with a contest at Butler in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kickoff is slated for 9:00 a.m. (pacific) and Jack Cronin will be there to bring you all the play-by-play action.
