VALPARAISO, IN – Scoring 28 unanswered points, Valparaiso defeated the University of San Diego football team in the PFL opener, 28-21.
 
USD took an early 14-0 lead, with touchdowns from QB Judd Erickson to WR Michael Carner and WR Vance Jefferson to WR Ja'seem Reed.
 
Valparaiso scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives to take the lead early in the third quarter. Another score early in the fourth put the home team ahead 28-14.
 
The Toreros made it interesting with a fumble recovery and 21-yard touchdown strike from Erickson to Reed, making it 28-21 with 1:49 left. Valpo sealed the win with the ensuing kickoff recovery.
 
USD falls to 1-3 (0-1 PFL) on the season, and will return home to face Stetson for the Brian Fogarty PFL Classic.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Valpo was forced into a third-and-10 on its first possession, and Jacob Saewitz came up with a sack to force a punt.
• Getting the ball on their own 19 towards the end of the first quarter, Erickson rushed for 14 yards before hitting Vance Jefferson for a 37-yard pass. Two plays later, Erickson found Carner down the left side for a 26-yard touchdown and the 7-0 lead.  
• Seconds into the second quarter, Erickson threw a short pass to Childers, who broke multiple tackles en route to a 52-yard gain. On a third-and-10, Vance Jefferson took an end around and threw it to a wide open Ja'seem Reed for a 34-yard touchdown.
• Valpo answered with a 12-play, 65-yard drive ending in a two-yard touchdown rush.
• On their last drive of the first half, the Beacons used an 11-play, 79-yard touchdown drive to cut the deficit. The two-point attempt failed, and USD maintained a 14-13 lead at the half.
• Valpo got the ball to open the second half and produced an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in 5:45 to take a 20-14 lead.
• Ambagtsheer stepped in front of a receiver and grabbed his first career interception to set USD up at Valpo's 34 to start the fourth. The Toreros were eventually forced to punt.
• Early in the fourth, Valpo connected on a 44-yard touchdown pass and was successful on a two-point try to extend its lead to 28-14.
• Muhindo Kapapa blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt from Valpo, giving the Toreros the ball back at the USD25 with 4:30 left. Erickson hit Jefferson for a 34-yard pass play, but USD eventually turned it over on downs at the Valpo 21.
• Mykee Irving jumped on a Valpo fumble late in the fourth, and Erickson found Reed across the middle for a 21-yard touchdown a play later. USD trailed 28-21 with 1:49 left, but Valpo recovered the all-important kickoff.

TORERO TIDBITS

• USD drops to 21-7 against Valpo all-time. USD had won 14 of 15 coming into today.
• Nichols ended with a career-high 13 tackles, including eight solo.
• Ambagtsheer grabbed his first career interception in his 35^th game.  
• Jefferson ended with five catches for 84 yards, in addition to his 34-yard passing touchdown.
• Erickson completed 13-of-27 attempts for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
• Reed registered two receptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
• Carner grabbed three passes for 42 yards and the touchdown.
• LB Chase Lyons and DE Jacob Saewitz each registered a sack for USD.
• Childers totaled 14 touches for 90 yards (37 rushing, 53 receiving).
• Valpo held a 339-299 advantage in total yards.
• Kapapa totaled nine tackles, including two TFL.
• USD was a combined 2-14 on third and fourth downs.

 
UP NEXT
After three straight road contests, USD welcomes Stetson to Torero Stadium next Saturday. San Diego leads the all-time series 9-0, including a 41-16 win on the road last year to clinch a share of the PFL title. WR Christian Brown caught six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, while Vance Jefferson and Ja'seem Reed combined for 10 receptions for 155 and two touchdowns.