DES MOINES – A strong defensive performance by San Diego helped the Toreros outlast Drake, 27-10, to remain undefeated in the Pioneer Football League on Saturday.
 
In a cold and rainy contest, the Toreros (7-2, 6-0 PFL) defense came up big, forcing several key turnovers and keeping the Bulldog (5-3, 4-2 PFL) offense out of the end zone all afternoon.
 
USD's defensive unit put pressure on Drake quarterback Grant Kraemer from the start. Nick Friedel led the defense with eight tackles (5.0 solo), two sacks, one forced fumble and a pass break-up. He was joined in the backfield by Jacob Bergstrom (2.0 sacks), Jake Wittwer (1.5 sacks) and Myles Wilson (0.5 sacks).
 
The Toreros were first on the board after Anthony Lawrence found Michael Armstead for a 43-yard completion, down to the Drake 4-yard-line. On 4th-and-goal, Lawrence rolled to his left and edged his way inside the pilon to put the Toreros in front, 7-0.
 
Drake's defense was disruptive in the red zone early on, forcing the Toreros into back-to-back 4th-and-goal situations but Lawrence would not be denied.
 
After Friedel's forced fumble was recovered by Kim Mahoney on the 9-yard-line, the Bulldog defense seemed as if they would get the stop. But again on 4th-and-goal, Lawrence powered up the middle and in to make it, 13-0, Toreros.
 
Drake's only touchdown of the contest came in the second quarter, after Jeran Proctor intercepted Lawrence's pass on the USD 27-yard-line and ran it in to make it, 13-7.
 
Weather was definitely a factor in a game that saw two fumbles and three interceptions between the two teams.
 
Arrion Archie and David Tolbert each recorded an interception for USD in the first half. Archie intercepted Kraemer's pass midway through the second quarter on the USD 40-yard-line. On the next play, Emilio Martinez broke free for 62 yards to set up Terrence Smith for a 3-yard rushing touchdown to make it 20-7.
 
Tolbert's pick came in the final minute of the first half when he intercepted a Drake pass on the 7-yard-line to give the Toreros the momentum going into halftime.
 
On their first drive of the second half, Lawrence launched a 42-yard pass to Michael Bandy, who caught the ball on the 1-yard line and dove into the end zone to make it 27-7 and the Toreros never looked back.
 
Lawrence finished the day 21-of-32 for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception, in addition to his two rushing touchdowns.
 
San Diego's defense limited Drake to 254 total yards and the Bulldogs were just 4-of-16 third down conversions.
 
With the win, the Toreros extend their PFL winning streak to 27 games and are in first place in the conference standings.
 
The Toreros return to Torero Stadium for their final home game of the season next Saturday at 2 p.m. against Davidson.