amir wallace interception vs. morehead state
11
Morehead St. MOR 3-5 , 2-3
17
Winner San Diego USD 2-6 , 2-3
Morehead St. MOR
3-5 , 2-3
11
Final
17
San Diego USD
2-6 , 2-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MOR Morehead St. 0 3 0 8 11
USD San Diego 7 0 7 3 17

Game Recap: Football |

Defense Leads Football to Homecoming Win Over Morehead State

Fourth-quarter interception from Amir Wallace seals 17-11 USD victory at Torero Stadium on Saturday afternoon

SAN DIEGO — A fourth-quarter interception from Amir Wallace sealed a Homecoming win for San Diego football on Saturday afternoon, pushing the Toreros (2-6, 2-3 PFL) past Morehead State (3-5, 2-3 PFL) by a 17-11 margin before a crowd of 1,593 at Torero Stadium.

With USD leading by six and Morehead State threatening to score on a last-chance drive, Wallace took the ball back with a leaping, acrobatic grab at the USD 42 yard line, stopping the Eagles' rally in its tracks with just seconds remaining in the game. 

Freshman quarterback Dom Nankil (Mater Dei High School) completed 11 of his 19 pass attempts in his fourth career start to total 199 yards and also added a rushing touchdown.

Senior running back Isaiah Williams led the charge for the Toreros on the ground, racking up 134 yards and a touchdown of his own as he secured his third 100-yard game of the season.

The Torero defense excelled with a strong collective effort on Saturday, forcing seven punts, two sacks, six tackles-for-losses, and one game-sealing interception.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
  • After the San Diego defense got the game started with a quick three-and-out, quarterback Dom Nankil began the Toreros' first possession with a 22-yard pass to Josh Heverly but saw his drive abruptly end when Morehead State safety Jihad McCall picked off his next pass.
  • Morehead State's defense continued to apply pressure on the San Diego offense on its ensuing possession, forcing a fumble on the USD 12-yard line. The San Diego defense held strong after the turnover, forcing a 36-yard field goal attempt that missed wide.
  • The Toreros' next drive featured a long completion to Ja'seem Reed (41 yards) and a highlight-reel catch from Josh Heverly (12 yards) that was capped off with a two-yard touchdown run from Torero running back Isaiah Williams, making the score 7-0 San Diego with one minute to go in the first quarter of play. 
  • After the score, the San Diego defense continued to dominate, forcing Morehead State's third punt of the game. 
  • Nankil was intercepted by Morehead State linebacker Chase Lyons at midfield on USD's next drive, giving the Eagles strong field position as they took the ball back.
  • Morehead State again settled for a field goal attempt but this time was able to convert, chipping in a 24-yard effort that moved the score to 7-3 in favor of San Diego with eight minutes to go in the half.
  • Neither team capitalized on their next offensive drives as the defensive battle at Torero Stadium continued, ending the half with the score at 7-3 in favor of the home team.
  • San Diego opened up the second period with an extended nine-minute drive that featured multiple carries from Williams and an 18-yard pass to tight end Peyton Smith. The drive ended with a six-yard quarterback keeper from Nankil, with the freshman dashing into the endzone to extend his team's lead to 14-3. 
  • Punts from both teams allowed the Eagles to take advantage of strong field position on their next drive. A 25-yard pass from Morehead State quarterback Carter Cravens to wide receiver Kyle Daly set up Cravens to score himself, rushing two yards into the end zone for a touchdown on a quarterback keeper.
  • The Eagles' two-point conversion was successful after the score, cutting the USD lead to three at 14-11 to start Saturday afternoon's final period of play. 
  • As the multitude of punts continued in the fourth quarter, USD received the ball on the 50 yard line with 8:40 to go in the game. A 30-yard pass to Reed put the Toreros at the 4 yard line, but the Eagle defense prevailed in the red zone, limiting USD to a 19-yard field goal from kicker Aidan Lehman that moved the score to 17-11.
  • With 3:37 on the clock, Morehead State had an opportunity to get ahead with a touchdown but the Torero defense held firm, stopping the Eagles with a gritty fourth down stand that gave the USD offense the ball back with one minute to go.
  • A three-and-out from the Torero offense gave Morehead State one final chance to score with 55 seconds remaining in the game, but the Eagles' hopes of a comeback were dashed after USD cornerback Amir Wallace picked off Cravens, sealing a 17-11 Homecoming win for the Toreros with a clutch late-game interception.
 TORERO TIDBITS:
  • The USD defense led the way on Saturday afternoon, forcing seven punts, two sacks, six tackles-for-losses, and one game-sealing interception.
  • Running back Isaiah Williams shined, gathering 134 yards on 31 carries, with one rushing touchdown. 
  • Wide receiver Ja'seem Reed kept the Toreros in the game, hauling in two passes for 30 yards or more before ending his afternoon with 93 yards on four completions.
  • Linebacker Garrett Carney had a team-high 10 total tackles (seven solo), and two tackles for losses.
  • Kicker Aidan Lehman made his only field goal attempt of the afternoon, converting from 19 yards out with 3:37 left in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT:
The Toreros will continue Pioneer Football League play on the road next week, traveling to Clinton, South Carolina to face Presbyterian. Kickoff at Bailey Memorial Stadium on Saturday is set for 9 a.m. PST.
 
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