SAN DIEGO – The University of San Diego football team earned its largest margin of victory since 2013, defeating La Verne in the season opener, 58-0.
 
Graduate quarterback Judd Erickson completed 12-of-26 passes for 228 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Quarterbacks Grant Sergent and Re-al Mitchell each threw a touchdown as well.
 
In his first game as a Torero, running back Chris Childers rushed 17 times and caught two passes for 112 total yards and a touchdown. Teammate Isaiah Smith made the most of his nine carries with 61 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Sophomore wide receiver Vance Jefferson picked up where he left off last year, ending with four receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
 
In 14 La Verne drives, the San Diego defense forced 11 punts. Redshirt senior safety Joshua Hong and sophomore cornerback Nick Murray each intercepted a pass.
 
USD moves to 1-0 on the season, and will travel to Cal Poly next Saturday.   
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After La Verne had a bad snap on a punt, USD recovered at the ULV 2. On the next play, Chris Childers ran left and scored the first touchdown of the season for the Toreros.
• A Mykee Irving sack forced a third-and-14 for La Verne late in the first quarter, eventually ending in a punt.
• Early in the second quarter, Erickson found Kline for a 19-yard pickup to get near midfield, but La Verne later came up with a sack to force a punt.
• After a 49-yard bomb from Erickson to Carner got USD down to the La Verne 11, Isaiah Smith pounded in for a one-yard touchdown. Childers nearly got in a play prior with a 10-yard rush.
• Forced with a fourth-and-6 on La Verne's 36, the Toreros were successful on a fake punt, as quarterback Re-Al Mitchell took a direct snap and scampered for 16 yards. Lehman later drilled a 43-yard field goal to make it 17-0.
• Cornerback Nick Murray came up with an acrobatic interception while on the ground to get USD the ball back, and Erickson launched a 59-yard touchdown to Vance Jefferson four plays later.
• After San Diego's defense forced another punt, Lehman added to the lead with a 38-yard field goal with time expiring. At halftime, USD led 27-0.
• On La Verne's first drive of the second half, Joshua Hong picked off the quarterback's attempt downfield. The Toreros capitalized with a 15-yard touchdown back-shoulder throw from Erickson to Jefferson.
• Another La Verne punt resulted in a 28-yard touchdown run from Smith, extending USD's lead to 41-0.
• Erickson found freshman Peyton Smith for a 24-yard completion, and Brandon Eickert later connected on a 23-yard field goal.
• Quarterback Grant Sergent entered with 14:53 left in the fourth, leading a 7-play, 62-yard drive ending with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Josh Heverly.
• With less than four minutes to play in the game, Mitchell rolled out to his right and found freshman tight end Dylan Lawson, who dove into the endzone for his first career touchdown.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• USD secured its first shutout since 2016, which was also the last night game at Torero Stadium (27-0 over Western New Mexico). Both games were played on September 3.
• Head Coach Dale Lindsey is now 76-25 in his USD career.
• San Diego held a 492-108 advantage in total yards.
• USD had 20 first downs compared to La Verne's seven.
• The 58-point win was the largest margin of victory since September 28, 2013 (59-0 at Stetson).
• Heverly and Lawson each caught their first career touchdowns.
• Hong grabbed his first career interception.
• The Toreros held the Leopards to 14 rushing yards.
• Junior defensive tackle Will Buck had a team-high five tackles, including 1.5 TFL and a 0.5 sack.

 
UP NEXT
USD will have three straight road games, beginning at Cal Poly next Saturday, September 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 PM. The Mustangs hold a 6-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 28-17 win at Torero Stadium last season.