SAN DIEGO — San Diego football (0-3, 0-0 PFL) was within five points of Princeton at the half but could not overcome the Tigers (1-0, 0-0 Ivy League) on Saturday afternoon, dropping a tough 23-12 decision at Torero Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Princeton got on the board first, overcoming a handful of early penalties to take a 7-0 lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass at the 11:57 mark in the first half.
- San Diego quarterback Dom Nankil got the Toreros in the red zone as the first quarter wound down with a 33-yard strike to Ja'seem Reed, setting up first and 10 on the Princeton one yard line.
- Isaiah Williams punched in a one-yard touchdown rush two plays later but Aidan Lehman's point after attempt was blocked, leaving USD trailing by a 7-6 margin after one quarter of play.
- The Tigers scored again with 4:54 remaining in the half, pulling ahead 14-6 with a 32-yard touchdown pass.
- A 55-yard Torero field goal from Aidan Lehman made it a one-possession game heading into halftime, with San Diego trailing 14-9.
- Princeton scored almost immediately after the second half got underway, pulling ahead by a 21-9 margin following a three-play, 58-yard scoring drive that was punctuated by a short rushing touchdown.
- Lehman responded by drilling another field goal late in the third quarter, this time from 48 yards out to pull USD within nine at 21-12.
- San Diego recovered a Princeton fumble on a muffed punt with 10:57 to go in the fourth but could not capitalize and turned in a four and out on its ensuing possession.
- Nankil was tackled in his own end zone with just over three minutes remaining in the game, moving the score to 23-12 in favor of the visitors after Princeton forced a safety.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Ja'seem Reed paced the San Diego offense with 105 receiving yards, followed by Josh Heverly, who had 57, and Eric Haney, who added 28.
- Isaiah Williams had nine rushing yards on 11 attempts, including the Toreros' lone touchdown of the afternoon.
- Jayden Wickware, who joined the Toreros from Princeton this offseason as a graduate transfer, notched an interception against his former team, marking his first of the year.
- Wickware also led the USD defense with 10 total tackles (eight solo), one sack, and one tackle for a loss.
- Giovanni Iovino and Jerry Rangel joined Wickware in recording sacks (one apiece), combining for eight solo tackles and three tackles for losses.
- Trey Ortega had six tackles for losses.
- San Diego and Princeton combined to punt 17 times on Saturday.
UP NEXT
The Toreros will close out their three-game homestand next Saturday, when they host Dayton to open Pioneer Football League play. Kickoff at Torero Stadium is set for 2 p.m.