MOREHEAD, KY – Scoring all of its points in the first half, the University of San Diego football team (5-5, 4-3 PFL) defeated Morehead State (2-9, 1-7 PFL) in the final game of the 2022 season, 14-9.  
 
Freshman Ruben Lopez led the team with nine total tackles and added his first career interception at the goal line with 1:33 remaining.
 
Defensive end Muhindo Kapapa registered seven tackles, three sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry in the win.
 
Graduate quarterback Judd Erickson tossed two touchdowns, including a seven-yard back shoulder throw to Vance Jefferson and a three-yard score to Re-al Mitchell.
 
Mitchell ended with 71 total yards, including 10 rushes for 66 yards.
 
USD ends the season with a 5-5 (4-3 PFL) record.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego rattled off a 10-play, 96-yard drive in 5:59 towards the end of the first quarter. Erickson found Jefferson in the back left corner of the endzone for a 7-yard touchdown and the lead. Mitchell rushed for 37 yards on the drive, while Logan Gingg added 23.
• USD forced a turnover on downs near midfield early in the second quarter, with Chase Lyons racing in for a quarterback hurry. The Toreros later fumbled at the Morehead 27 after a 20-yard pass.
• The defense forced another turnover on downs midway through the second quarter, this time with a pass breakup from Hunter Nichols.  
• Erickson hit Ja'seem Reed for passes of 25 and 32 yards to get USD deep into Morehead State territory. On a third-and-goal, Erickson hit Mitchell on the left side for a 3-yard touchdown and the 14-0 lead.
• Morehead State got on the board with a 21-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half.
• The Eagles intercepted a USD pass and later cut their deficit to 14-9 with a one-yard touchdown run. The two-point attempt was no good.
• The Toreros gained 13 yards on an end around, but fumbled at Morehead's 1. The Eagles drove down to USD's 6, but Kapapa came up with another sack. Morehead State then missed a 31-yard field goal.
• The Eagles intercepted another pass late in the fourth quarter, and took over on USD's 46 with 3:37 left.
• On a second-and-2 from the USD 12, Chase Lyons came around the edge and sacked the quarterback. He also forced a fumble, but Morehead recovered.
• On fourth-and-11 from the USD 21, Ruben Lopez grabbed his first career interception on the goal line.
• Kapapa and Will Buck combined for another sack to seal the win for USD.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Head Coach Dale Lindsey improves to 80-30 (68-9 PFL) in his USD career.
• Erickson ends the season 192-324 (59.3%) for 2,271 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
• Mitchell has nine total touchdowns in 10 games. He has rushed 73 times for 433 yards (5.8 average) and a team-leading four touchdowns. As a receiver, he has 23 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns (all over the last four games).
• Jefferson led the team this season with 43 catches and seven receiving touchdowns.
• Reed led USD with four catches for 79 yards in the win.
• Morehead State ran 81 total plays, compared to USD's 57.
• The San Diego defense forced four turnovers on downs for the second consecutive game.
• Kapapa ends the season leading the team in sacks (9.0) and TFL (14.0).
• Aidan Lehman was 27-27 on extra points this season.