Final Stats

(Poughkeepsie, NY) - Sophomore quarterback Keith Williams found a wide open Reggie Bell down field with just five seconds left for a 36-yard touchdown score to propel the Toreros to a 20-16 comeback victory. USD was facing a 4th and 6 with no timeouts left and Williams rolled left and somehow Bell broke free down field close to the end zone.

The win keeps USD's all-time record against Marist a perfect 10-0, however, this game was typical of previous close battles with the Red Foxes. This marks the fourth time in the last six games that USD has scored to go ahead within the final minute of play.

USD trailed 13-3 entering the second half and Chris Campano's 2-yard TD rush with 9:46 to go pulled the Toreros within 13-10. Leading up to that score was a key 4th down conversion by Williams on his own 2-yard rush that kept the drive alive. The Torero defense played a key role in the comeback as they came out in the second half and stopped the Red Foxes on three straight possessions.

A David Last 20-yard field goal early in the 4th period knotted the score at 13-all. That Torero score was set-up when Bennie Harris sacked Marist QB Anthony Francis for a 9-yard loss and fumble, and LB Nic Henson fell on it to begin USD's possession with 1:26 left in the third period.

Marist scored the game's first 13 points with scores in each of the quarters. Quarterback Anthony Francis connected with WR Armani Martin for 34 yards and the game's first score with 5:56 left in the first quarter. The Red Fox defense scored the second one as Demetrius Williams scooped up a Williams fumble and rambled in from 34 yards out for the 13-0 lead. A 25-yard field goal by Marist kicker Mike Maccarone with 9:15 left in the game gave the Red Foxes a 16-13 lead that held until the Toreros last second heroics.

USD's lone score of the first half came on a 23-yard field goal from David Last with 1:55 left in the half. That closed out an impressive 15-play 74-yard drive by the Toreros that was highlighted by a 4th down conversion that kept the drive alive. Quarterback Keith Williams connected with WR Reggie Bell for 4 yards at the Marist 27-yard line. USD had a first and goal from the Marist three but were unsuccessful on three straight rushing attempts and settled for the Last field goal.

For the game for USD Williams completed 18-27 passes for 227 yards. Three receivers hauled in 4 catches - Reggie Bell (78 yards, 1TD), Brandon White (63 yards) and Jonah Hodges (22 yards). Hodges also led the ground attack with 90 yards on 24 carries. Defensively USD was paced by LB Una Hamala (10 tackles), LB Nic Henson (9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), safety Joe LaBarbera (7 stops) and DE Jonathan Petersen (5 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles).

Next week the Toreros have a bye and return to Torero Stadium on Saturday, October 11th, when they host Stetson at 2:00 p.m. in the annual homecoming/family weekend game.