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SAN DIEGO – No. 19/18 San Diego begins its FCS Playoffs journey with a trip to No. 14/13 Nicholls State on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.
 
The Toreros (9-2) will look to advance to the FCS Playoffs for the third consecutive year after knocking off Cal Poly in 2016 and Northern Arizona in 2017. USD is one of six teams in the country that has made three straight FCS Playoffs (including 2018).
 
It will be the first meeting in program history against the Colonels (8-3), who won the Southland Conference this season with a 7-2 league record.
 
The Toreros won their fifth straight Pioneer Football League title and seventh in the past eight years to secure its postseason bid.
 
The game will be streamed on ESPN3. It will also be broadcast on ESPN 1700AM with Jack Cronin on the call. Live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY AND SUCCESS
- The Toreros have won its FCS Playoffs first round game in each of the past two seasons. USD defeated Cal Poly, 35-21, in 2016 and dominated Northern Arizona, 41-10, last season.
 
- It will be the third consecutive season the Toreros compete in the FCS Playoffs and fourth appearance in the past five years.
 
LAST TIME OUT
- Anthony Lawrence threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns as San Diego completed its third consecutive undefeated Pioneer Football League season with a 31-14 victory at Marist this past Saturday at Tenney Stadium.
 
- The Toreros scored 31 straight points to open the game to fuel their eighth consecutive victory and extend the nation's longest conference winning streak to 29 games, dating back to Oct. 10, 2015.
 
- Lawrence finished the day 20-of-26 with a 208.4 passer rating. His big day was even more impressive considering it concluded with 5:14 to play in the third quarter when Reid Sinnett took over at quarterback.
 
- Lawrence moved into a tie for eighth-place all-time in FCS history with 116 career touchdown passes and became the all-time leader in USD history, passing Josh Johnson (2004-07). He moved up to 11th-place all-time in FCS history with 12,306 career passing yards.
 
- Michael Bandy continued to deliver big plays, making five catches for 127 yards. It was the eighth time this season Bandy registered over 100 yards receiving.
 
- Bandy became USD's all-time leader in single-season receiving yards on a 53-yard reception in the first quarter. He has racked up 1,554 receiving yards this season, passing previous record holder, John Matthews, who had 1,478 in 2008.
 
- Emilio Martinez did not break any records but he did do a little bit of everything for the Toreros on Saturday. He led USD with seven receptions and a receiving touchdown, along with a team-high 42 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
 
- The Toreros defense was excellent and shut out the Red Foxes in the first half. USD did not allow any points until there was 5:20 remaining in the third quarter.
 
- David Tolbert, Manoah Tuiasosopo and Kim Mahoney led the way with five tackles apiece. Nick Friedel racked up 2.5 tackles for loss. Mahoney, Friedel, Jake Wittwer and Aaron Laut recorded a half-sack apiece.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST NICHOLLS
- It will be the first meeting between these two programs.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
- The winner of the game between USD and Nicholls will head to third-seeded Eastern Washington on Dec. 1.
 
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
- Anthony Lawrence and Michael Bandy have connected 79 times this season and are among the nation's most prolific players at their positions. Below are categories in which they rank among the top in the country.
 
Anthony Lawrence
Category                                 National Ranking          Value
Passing Efficiency                                          1          178.6
Passing TDs                                                   1          35
Yards per Pass Attempt                                  1          10.07
Passing Yards                                                 2          3,785
Passing Yards Per Game                                2          344.1
Total Offense                                                   2          350.4
Points Responsible For                                   3          236
Points Responsible For Per Game                  3          21.5
Completion Percentage                                   4         0.670
Passing Yards per Completion                        7          15.02
Completions Per Game                                   8          22.91
 
Michael Bandy
Category                                  National Ranking          Value
Receiving Yards                                             1          1,554
Receiving Yards Per Game                            2          141.3
All Purpose                                                     7          156.64
Receptions Per Game                                    8          7.2
Total Touchdowns                                          13        14
Yards per Reception                                      13        19.67
Scoring                                                            33        7.6
 
ADDITIONAL TOREROS IN THE NCAA
Additional Toreros rank among the top in the country in multiple categories.
Category                                    National Ranking          Value
Kickoff Return TDs                                            4          2            Michael Armstead
Fumbles Recovered                                          5          3            Kim Mahoney
Receiving TDs                                                   5          14          Michael Bandy
Kickoff Returns                                                  5          32.0       Michael Armstead
Passes Defended                                              6          1.4         David Tolbert
Combined Kick Returns                                    11        673         Michael Armstead
Punting                                                             16        42.5        Tanner Kuljian
Total Touchdowns                                             20        13           Emilio Martinez
Forced Fumbles                                                24        0.27        Nick Friedel
Scoring                                                             29        7.8           Emilio Martinez
Rushing TDs                                                     34        9             Emilio Martinez
Receiving TDs                                                  39        7             Dalton Kincaid
All Purpose                                                       42        116.70    Emilio Martinez
 
AS A TEAM IN THE NCAA
- USD ranks among the nation's best as a team in the following categories.
Category                                          National Ranking          Value
Team Passing Efficiency (124 ranked)                1          177.52
Blocked Punts Allowed (123 ranked)                   1          0
Passing Offense (124 ranked)                             2          349.2
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense (124 ranked) 3          0.227
Completion Percentage (124 ranked)                  5          0.665
Winning Percentage (120 ranked)                       6          0.818
Tackles for Loss Allowed (124 ranked)                6          3.91
Sacks Allowed (124 ranked)                                7          0.73
Kickoff Returns (124 ranked)                               9          25.33
Scoring Offense (124 ranked)                             10        38.5
Total Offense (124 ranked)                                  11        480.8
Turnovers Lost (124 ranked)                               12        11
Fumbles Lost (121 ranked)                                 12        4
Passing Yards per Completion (124 ranked)       13        15.00
4th Down Conversion Pct (124 ranked)              16        0.611
Red Zone Offense (124 ranked)                          16        0.891
Net Punting (124 ranked)                                     16        38.15
Passes Had Intercepted (124 ranked)                 24        7
Time of Possession (124 ranked)                        25        31:48
Blocked Punts (26 ranked)                                  26        1
Kickoff Return Defense (124 ranked)                  27        18.23
Turnover Margin (123 ranked)                             31        0.36
Blocked Kicks (75 ranked)                                   33        3
Red Zone Defense (124 ranked)                         35        0.781
Punt Returns (124 ranked)                                  37        9.76
First Downs Offense (124 ranked)                       37        232
 
LAWRENCE AT QUARTERBACK
- Anthony Lawrence has continued his consistent play at quarterback this season. The four-year starter is 252-of-376 for 3,785 yards with 35 touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. He has also rushed for four touchdowns.
 
LAWRENCE'S RANKINGS IN FCS ALL-TIME RECORDS
Anthony Lawrence currently ranks among the top FCS quarterbacks all-time in the following categories. 
- Fifth all-time in career passing efficiency (163.2)
- 12th in career passing yards (12,306)
- T-8th in career touchdown passes (116)
- 15th in career total offense (12,354 yards)
 
LAWRENCE APPROACHES SAN DIEGO ALL-TIME RECORDS
- Lawrence ranks among the top quarterbacks in Torero history in the following career categories.
                                                            NEXT UP                       
Passing Yards – 1st, 12,306                  N/A
Passing Attempts – 1st, 1,409               N/A 
Passing Completions – 1st, 931            N/A
Completion Percentage – 3rd, .661       Mason Mills (2010-13) - .664
Efficiency Rating – 2nd, 163.2               Josh Johnson (2004-07) – 176.7
Touchdown Passes – 1st, 116                N/A
Total Offense – 1st, 12,354                    N/A

TOREROS AMONG FINALISTS FOR WALTER PAYTON AND EDDIE ROBINSON AWARDS 
- Anthony Lawrence and Michael Bandy are among 25 players named finalists for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, which is considered the Heisman of the FCS.

- Head Coach Dale Lindsey was one of 15 coaches named as a finalist for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which recognizes the FCS national coach of the year.

LAWRENCE NAMED WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY SEMIFINALIST
- Anthony Lawrence was named a William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist as announced by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
 
DEEP THREATS
- Michael Bandy leads the Toreros with 79 catches for 1,554 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's averaging 19.67 yards per catch. Christian Brooks is second among receivers on the team with 32 receptions for 375 yards (11.72 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. Michael Armstead has 21 receptions and is averaging 24.29 yards per catch.
 
BIG BODY IN THE END ZONE
- Tight end, Dalton Kincaid, has established himself as a red zone threat. The 6-foot-5-inch freshman from Las Vegas, Nevada, is second among Toreros with seven receiving touchdowns, with six of the seven coming in the red zone. 
 
SHUT-DOWN DEFENSE
- Kama Kamaka leads the Toreros defense with 62 tackles. Kim Mahoney has 57 tackles, while Jack Michael and Arrion Archie have 55 apiece. 
 
- Jacob Bergstrom has spent the most time in the backfield for the Toreros, racking up 12.0 tackles for loss including 5.5 sacks. Connor Spencer and Jake Wittwer have been joining Bergstrom in the backfield with 8.5 and 8.5 tackles for loss, respectively.
 
- David Tolbert has been solid at shutting down opposing team's passing attack and has a team-high 14 pass break-ups and one forced fumble. Arrion Archie has nine pass break-ups, while Kama Kamaka has five.

MICHAELS AND SPENCER NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
- Jake Michaels and Connor Spencer were named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Football Team, selected by CoSIDA, which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.

- This is the first Academic All-District selection for Michaels, who carries a 3.66 grade-point average in Biology. Specer makes the team for the third-straight year, with a 3.81 grade-point average, majoring in Electrical Engineering.