DES MOINES, IA – A strong defensive effort and a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown from Hunter Nichols led the University of San Diego football team (2-3, 1-1 PFL) to a road win at Drake (0-6, 0-3 PFL), 22-10.
 
The Toreros forced four turnovers on downs in addition to an interception, four sacks, and six pass breakups.
 
After Drake cut the deficit to 15-10 with 13:43 left in the fourth, Nichols immediately answered with a spectacular 98-yard return to seal the win.  
 
USD improves to 2-3 (1-1 PFL) on the season, and will return home to face Presbyterian on homecoming next Saturday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Drake went for it on a fourth-and-3 early in the first quarter, and the USD defense came up with a stop. Back-to-back big plays from Vance Jefferson and Ja'seem Reed got USD down to the five.
• Childers took a toss to the left side and punched it in from three yards out to give San Diego an early 7-0 lead.
• Chase Lyons raced to the ball carrier and made an open field tackle on third down to force a field goal. USD maintained a 7-3 lead with 12:38 left in the second quarter.
• Aidan Lehman later launched a 57-yard punt down to the Drake one-yard line. Three plays later, the Bulldogs stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
• Drake drove down to the USD 13 with time running down, but for the third time in the first half, the San Diego defense came up with a stop on fourth down.
• On the first drive the second half, Eric Haney jumped a route and grabbed his first career interception to set USD up at Drake's 20. Lehman later connected on a 29-yard field goal to extend the lead to 12-3.  
• San Diego brought out the field goal unit for a 46-yard attempt midway through the third quarter, but Grant Sergent found Jefferson for a 16-yard pass on the fake. Lehman later made a 24-yard field goal to increase the lead to 15-3.
• Drake capitalized on a muffed punt, rushing for a 14-yard touchdown immediately after to cut its deficit to 15-10.
• On the ensuing kickoff, Hunter Nichols broke multiple tackles and took it to the house for a 98-yard touchdown return. USD led 22-10 with 13:27 left in the fourth.
• Jerry Riggins recovered on a muffed punt midway through the fourth, and USD took over at the Drake 43.
• With less than seven minutes to play, Nick Murray made an open field tackle on fourth-and-5 to force another turnover on downs.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• USD is now 20-10 all-time against Drake, including 10 straight wins.
• Haney snagged his first interception in his 19^th career game.
• In his career, Nichols has 33 kickoff returns for 844 yards (first touchdown today).
• Lehman is 6-for-7 on field goals and 12-for-12 on extra points this season. His 57-yard punt today was a career long.   
• Running back Chris Childers rushed 21 times for 70 yards and the touchdown.
• Reed caught three passes and rushed twice for 77 total yards.
• San Diego is 79-9 in PFL play since 2011.
• LB Jagger Pagano led the team with 10 total tackles (six solo) with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Muhindo Kapapa ended with 1.5 sacks, five tackles, and a QB hurry.
• Nick Murray totaled nine tackles and three pass breakups.
• With another today, Jacob Saewitz ranks second on the team with four sacks.
• Jefferson was USD's leading receiver with four receptions and 46 yards.  

 
UP NEXT
San Diego will return home next Saturday, October 15 for the first time in 42 days for homecoming against Presbyterian. The Toreros hold a 2-0 lead in the all-time series, including a 69-28 win in South Carolina last season. The win tied the program record for most points in a single game, and head coach Dale Lindsey became the winningest coach in program history.