zamir wallace at presbyterian
23
Winner San Diego USD 3-6 , 3-3
13
Presbyterian PC 3-6 , 1-5
Winner
San Diego USD
3-6 , 3-3
23
Final
13
Presbyterian PC
3-6 , 1-5
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
USD San Diego 0 7 0 16 23
PC Presbyterian 7 6 0 0 13

Game Recap: Football |

Defense Dominates in Comeback Win at Presbyterian

San Diego erases early deficit, forces four straight turnovers to seal 23-13 victory at Bailey Memorial Stadium

CLINTON, SC — San Diego football (3-6, 3-3 PFL) on Saturday afternoon utilized a strong defensive effort to earn its third Pioneer Football League win of 2023, taking down Presbyterian 23-13 at Bailey Memorial Stadium after erasing an early deficit and holding the Blue Hose (3-6, 1-5 PFL) to just 209 total yards.

Headlined by graduate cornerback Zamir Wallace, the Torero defense dominated, recording 10 tackles for losses and five sacks as a group while recovering two fumbles and grabbing a pair of interceptions.

Wallace — the twin brother of teammate Amir Wallace, who was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Week last Sunday – halted two late Blue Hose drives by forcing key turnovers, including a fumble recovery midway through the fourth quarter and a clutch pick-six as time expired in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Presbyterian got on the board first on Saturday, pulling ahead 7-0 with an 18-yard rushing touchdown.
  • The Blue Hose added on a few minutes later with a 45-yard field goal, extending their early advantage to 10-0.
  • Re-al Mitchell answered back with a two-yard rushing touchdown midway through the second quarter, cutting Presbyterian's lead to 10-7.
  • USD fell back behind by six late in the first half when the Blue Hose converted on a 35-yard field goal to make it 13-7 in their favor.
  • Presbyterian threatened to score as time expired in the second quarter, but cornerback Nick Murray's team-leading third interception of the season stopped the Blue Hose in their tracks, sending the game to halftime with the Toreros still trailing by just six.
  • San Diego fumbled the ball on the Presbyterian 24 yard line early in the third quarter but recovered with a stirring defensive stand, forcing a three-and-out from the Blue Hose after a 11-yard tackle for a loss by Jayden Wickware.
  • Aidan Lehman attempted a 45-yard field goal with 5:16 to go in the third quarter but could not convert, keeping USD behind by six.
  • USD's defense continued to hold strong as the second half unfolded, forcing three straight three-and-outs and four straight punts to begin the period.
  • Josh Heverly tied the game at 13-13 when he hauled in a seven-yard touchdown reception from Dom Nankil, and the score stayed that way after the Toreros missed the ensuing point after attempt.
  • Zamir Wallace punctuated a dominant second-half defensive effort for USD when he recovered a forced fumble, setting the stage for the Toreros to take their first lead of the afternoon.
  • Aidan Lehman made good on the turnover two minutes later, kicking a clutch, go-ahead 47-yard field goal to give his team a 16-13 lead.
  • Presbyterian threatened one last time with 25 seconds remaining in the game but Zamir Wallace came up big on defense yet again, this time sealing USD a 23-13 win with a clutch 21-yard pick-six.
TORERO TIDBITS
  • Garrett Carney led USD with 10 total tackles, a performance that included six solo efforts, a tackle for a loss, and a sack.
  • Each of Wickware's six tackles on Saturday afternoon were solo, and he paced the Toreros with a tied-for-game-high two tackles for losses.
  • Murray's second-quarter interception was his team-leading third of 2023.
  • Jerry Riggins recovered a fumble on Presbyterian's final possession.
  • San Diego made Presbyterian punt on each of its first four drives to begin the second half before forcing four consecutive Blue Hose turnovers to end the game.
  • Counting Murray's second-quarter interception, USD forced either a punt or a turnover on each of Presbyterian's final nine possessions.
  • Zamir Wallace's late pick-six marked the third time that the Toreros have sealed a victory with a clutch fourth-quarter interception after Eric Haney did so against Dayton on September 23 and Amir Wallace did so last week (October 28) against Morehead State.
UP NEXT
The Toreros will return to San Diego next weekend to host St. Thomas in what will mark their final home game of the 2023 season. Kickoff at Torero Stadium on Saturday afternoon is set for 1:00 p.m.
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