San Diego Toreros (1-4, 1-1 PFL) •  Butler Bulldogs (2-3, 0-2 PFL)

Saturday, October 9 •  9 a.m. PT

Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl (5,647)  •  Indianapolis, Indiana

Live Video   •  Butler Athletics/Youtube  |  Live Radio   •  USDToreros.com | Live Statistics • ButlerSports.com

Social  •  Facebook.com/USDFootball  •  Twitter.com/USDFootball  •  Instagram.com/USDFootball


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — San Diego football (1-4, 1-1 PFL) is set to play its third road game of the 2021 season this Saturday, traveling to Indianapolis to take on Butler (2-3, 0-2 PFL)  as it continues Pioneer Football League (PFL) play.

The matchup is set to begin at 9 a.m. PST, with live video available via the Butler Athletics Youtube channel and The Voice of the Toreros Jack Cronin on the live radio call via USDToreros.com. Live statistics will be available on ButlerSports.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS BUTLER
• The Toreros are 20-5 against the Bulldogs all-time, with the two programs' most recent meeting coming this past March as part of the Spring 2021 campaign, a 27-13 USD win at Torero Stadium.

• San Diego has won eight consecutive contests against Butler, a streak that dates back to September 2010.

• After losing each of its first three games at Butler, USD is 7-1 at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl since 2000, and enters Saturday's contest on a three-game road win streak against the Bulldogs.

KAMAKA AND EICKERT EARN WEEKLY PFL HONORS
• Kama Kamaka and Brandon Eickert earned Pioneer Football League (PFL) weekly honors after San Diego's comeback win versus St. Thomas, the conference announced Sunday.

• Kamaka, a senior linebacker from Kailua, Hawaii, was named the PFL's Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his strip-scoop-and-score late in the third quarter tied the game and was part of San Diego's come-from-behind 27-24 PFL victory against St. Thomas, Saturday. Kamaka tackled the St. Thomas quarterback to force the fumble, scooped up the loose ball and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown to level the score at 24-24. He also had six tackles (three solo) in the win.

• Eickert, a junior kicker from St. Charles, Illinois, was named the PFL's Special Teams Player of the Week after he notched a 31-yard field goal with four minutes left in the game that proved to be the game winner on Saturday. He was 2-of-2 on field goals, (also making a 27-yarder) and 3-of-3 on PATs to account for nine of San Diego's 27 points in the victory.

LAST TIME OUT
• The Toreros earned their first win of the 2021 season last time out versus St. Thomas, beating the Tommies by a score of 27-24 behind 13 unanswered points and a strong defensive showing at Torero Stadium last Saturday.

Erickson Makes First USD Start
• Earning his first career start at USD, quarterback Judd Erickson found wide receiver Christian Brown for a 37-yard pass early in the first quarter.

• The duo connected again later on the drive for a six-yard touchdown to give San Diego a 7-0 lead. Late in the first frame, safety Michael Hawkins thwarted a fake field goal attempt to keep the Tommies off the board. 

Carner and Hawkins Answer the Call
• St. Thomas scored back-to-back touchdowns to take the lead, including an interception return late in the first and a 31-yard touchdown pass early in the second.

• The Toreros answered less than two minutes later, as Erickson launched a 30-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to wide receiver Michael Carner.

• Safety Hunter Nichols secured interceptions on back-to-back drives late in the second quarter, and the teams went into halftime locked at 14-14. 

A Big Stand on Defense
• A 44-yard field goal and another interception return put St. Thomas back in front in the third quarter, 24-14. On San Diego's next offensive drive, the Tommies came up with their third interception and returned it to USD's five-yard line.

• The Toreros defense allowed just four yards on three consecutive runs, then forced a turnover on downs with a sack from defensive tackle Will Buck and safety Maverick Martin to keep the deficit at 10. 

Clutch Scoop-and-Score From Kamaka
• With 4:12 remaining in the third quarter, kicker Brandon Eickert connected on a 27-yard field goal to make it a one-score contest.

• In the biggest defensive play of the game, Kama Kamaka ripped the ball from the running back, recovered the fumble, and ran it back 38 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 24. 

Smith and Eickert Help USD Pull Ahead
• After six scoreless drives in the fourth quarter, running back Terrence Smith dashed for 63 yards to set up USD at the opponent's 17-yard line. Eickert later knocked in a 31-yard field goal to put the Toreros in front, 27-24. 

A Team Effort on Defense to Close It Out
• The defense produced another two sacks on the next St. Thomas offensive drive, the first a combination between Buck and Muhindo Kapapa and the next from linebacker Jagger Pagano. Cornerback Amir Wallace later broke up a fourth-and-16 pass to seal the win.

QB Wrap-up
• Quarterback Mason Randall ended with 117 passing yards after entering in the second half. Carner led all receivers with 110 yards on six catches. Smith rushed 14 total times for 83 yards, compiling an average of 5.9 yards per rush.

Defense Wrap-up
• Defensively, Hawkins led the team with 11 total tackles, including 2.5 for a loss in addition to two pass breakups. With two today, Nichols increased his career interception total to six. Kamaka forced the fifth fumble of his career and scored his first touchdown.