SAN DIEGO – A strong defensive effort, two long field goals, and a timely touchdown propelled San Diego football (3-4, 3-1 PFL) past Drake (2-5, 1-3 PFL) on Saturday, 13-10.
 
Led by Muhindo Kapapa's three sacks, including two on the last drive of the game, the defensive unit allowed just 10 points and 222 total yards.
 
Kicker Pablo Tager tied the program record with a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter to knot the game at 3-3, and kicker Brandon Eickert connected on the eventual game-winning 44-yard field goal with 9:50 left in the fourth.
 
Late in the third quarter, quarterback Mason Randall fired a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Michael Gadinis to tie the game at 10-10. Running back Terrence Smith produced 117 total yards on 19 rushes and three catches.
 
USD improves to 3-4 (3-1 PFL), and will travel to Presbyterian next weekend.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• Drake opened the scoring early in the first quarter, connecting on a 38-yard field goal following a sack from Kapapa to make it third-and-23.
• On a second-and-20 early in the second quarter, defensive tackle Will Buck broke through for a sack, forcing another Drake punt.
• A defensive battled continued into halftime, with the Bulldogs holding a 3-0 lead. The Toreros held Drake to 93 total yards over the first two quarters.
• Drake attempted a 49-yard field goal early in the third quarter, but it fell short.
• With 7:08 left in the third, Tager drilled a 53-yard field goal to tie the game.
• Drake quickly regained the lead with a 75-yard touchdown drive in three plays. A 49-yard pass was followed by a 22-yard touchdown run to make it 10-3.
• San Diego proceeded to rattle off a nine-play, 94-yard touchdown drive to lock the game at 10-10. Randall found running back Terrence Smith for a big 21-yard gain, and wide receiver Ja'seem Reed took an end-around 20 yards to set up USD at the opponent's 10-yard line. On the next play, Randall threw a touchdown pass to Gadinis on the right side.
• With 9:55 left in the fourth, Eickert nailed a 44-yard field goal to give USD a 13-10 advantage.
• Backed up at its own 7-yard line, Terrence Smith used power and quickness on a 22-yard run to give USD some breathing room later in the fourth. Randall later hit wide receiver Michael Carner for a first down on third-and-5 to keep the drive alive.
• Kapapa registered another two sacks on Drake's last drive of the game, and defensive back Cassius Johnson notched an interception to seal the win.

 
TORERO TIDBITS
 

• Head Coach Dale Lindsey tied Brian Fogarty for the most wins in program history (71).
• With three today, Kapapa now has 6.0 sacks in 27 career games.
• Tager is just the second Torero to make a 53-yard field goal. Dave Bergmann also hit one against Whittier in 1991.
• So far in 2021, Smith has 81 rushing attempts for 343 yards (4.2 average).
• Gadinis finished with six catches for 53 yards and the touchdown.
• Defensive back Michael Hawkins led the team with eight tackles, including one for a loss. He has 52 total on the season.
• Buck is up to 2.5 sacks in 13 career games.
• Cassius Johnson registered his first interception of the season, and sixth of his career.
• San Diego outgained Drake, 302-222.

 
UP NEXT
San Diego will travel to Presbyterian next Saturday, October 23 at 10:00 AM PST. Last spring, the Toreros earned a 24-21 win in the only matchup in the series.