Final Stats

USDvsButlerStats2

Indianapolis, IN -- The USD Toreros scored on their first two drives of the game to set the tone for today's convincing 44-10 PFL victory over the Butler Bulldogs at Butler Bowl in Indianapolis, Indiana. The win improves USD's PFL mark to 2-0 and their season record to 3-1. Butler falls to 2-3 and 0-2.

Quarterback Anthony Lawrence had a solid first half in leading the Toreros to a 17-0 intermission lead. He completed 17-of-26 passes for 228 yards and one touchdown. On USD's opening drive he completed 5-of-7 passes for 83 yards that eventually setup Tevin Heyward's 1-yard TD rush and a 7-0 lead with 10:55 to go. On USD's second drive he culminated a 5-play, 67-yard drive with a 32-yard pass to the right corner of the endzone that Brian Riley hauled in one-handed to put the Toreros ahead 14-0. In the second quarter Patrick Murray added a 35-yard field goal and senior CB Jamal Agnew collected his 10th career interception that put a halt to a Bulldog drive. For the half the Torero defense held the Bulldogs to just 96 yards of offense (35 rush, 61 passing) in helping keep Butler scoreless.

Butler opened the second half by driving 71 yards over 14 plays that culminated with a 23-yard field goal by Drew Bevelhimer at the 9:05 mark. The Bulldogs had a first and goal from the Torero 6-yard line but the defense stopped Butler on three straight tries. The Toreros increased their lead to 24-3 when Lawrence scored on a 1-yard keeper with 2:14 left in the third. Two plays earlier the Toreros faced a 4th-and-1 from the Butler 41 and Heyward converted with a 2-yard rush. Lawrence then found Justin Priest deep along the right sideline for a 38-yard reception to the one-yard line.

Early in the final period the Toreros received a 16-yard touchdown run from Jonah Hodges with 12:59 to go that pushed USD's lead to 30-3. His burst up the middle was set-up by Lawrence connecting with Brian Riley for a 31-yard reception the previous play. After the Torero defense forced a Butler punt, Hodges added a 69-yard TD sprint on USD's first play from scrimmage for a 37-3 advantage. Butler and USD would trade scores down the stretch with Jereke Armstrong scoring on a 4-yard burst with 2:27 to go to make it 44-10.

For the game Lawrence would finish 23-33 for 326 yards and one score. Senior RB Jonah Hodges, on the strength of his 69-yard TD run, would finish with 128 yards on 16 carries to go with two scores. Tight end Ross Dwelley hauled in 5 balls for 58 yards, while Brian Riley hauled in 3 for 84 yards and Hodges added 4 for 54. Defensively the Toreros were paced by Alec Moreno (8 stops), Colton Giorgi (6 stops), Nic Henson (5 stops, 3 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery) and Devyn Bryant (5 stops, 3 pass breakups). USD totaled 526 yards of offense on the day while limiting Butler to 263 yards.

USD returns to action next Saturday, October 8th, with their annual homecoming and family weekend game. The Toreros will kickoff at 1:00 p.m. against the Davidson Wildcats in a PFL contest to be played at Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium.