DES MOINES, Iowa – San Diego made a 19-point fourth quarter comeback to take a late lead at Drake Saturday but fell 28-30 as the Bulldogs hit a 48-yard field goal as time expired in the PFL opener.
 
Graduate quarterback Grant Sergent had 292 passing yards on 25-40 with two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Cole Monach had eight receptions for 122 yards and found the endzone for a third straight week, this time around for a two-point conversion.
 
Defensively, USD was led by senior linebacker Giovanni Iovino who tallied nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. Senior cornerback Nick Murray added seven tackles, one for a loss and a pass breakup.
 
Once down 9-27 with 11:30 left in the game the Toreros stormed back to score 19 unanswered points and claim a 28-27 lead with under two minutes remaining. The Toreros fall to 2-2 and start PFL play 0-1.
 
How it Happened
San Diego opened the game with a touchdown on their first drive, a 17-yard reception by senior Josh Heverly, his first of the season. Senior kicker Aidan Lehman would miss the extra point, however.
 
The two sides exchanged punts and field goals, first with Drake's Shane Dunning making from 38, then Lehman redeeming himself from 30, only to be answered by Dunning from 42.
 
The Bulldogs ended the half with a three-yard receiving touchdown to take their first lead of the game at 13-9.
 
Drake's offense and defense persisted at the start of the second half, scoring the third quarter's only points via a touchdown, a 41-yeard breakout rush from Blake Ellingson.
 
The defending PFL champs scored again to start the fourth quarter, a 36-yard passing touchdown to Mitchell January to put them up 27-9.
 
It was then that the Toreros started clawing back. On the next drive the Toreros marched down the field as senior Logan Gingg found the endzone with his second two-yard rushing TD in as many weeks.
 
San Diego stormed to the red zone on their next drive but settled for a 26-yards field goal from Lehman. On the ensuing kickoff senior Mo Vanderweil tackled the return attempt inside the 10-yard line. On the following play a pressure from senior defensive lineman Brian Coburn forced an intentional grounding from inside the endzone, in effect a safety.
 
USD got the ball back and took their time going down the field, eventually scoring on a 5-yard reception by junior tight end Peyton Smith to put San Diego up a point with 1:55 remaining. The failed two-point conversion would prove critical, however.
 
San Diego forced a turnover on downs and had the ball back with 1:17 remaining but went three and out and gave the ball back with 44 seconds remaining. The defending PFL champs then went 62 yards in eight plays, ending with a game-winning 48-yard field goal from Dunning.
 
It's the second straight year that the Bulldogs beat the Toreros on the last play of the game, winning 25-20 on a hail Mary in San Diego on Oct. 21, 2023.
 
Up Next
USD returns home for the first time in almost a month to host Presbyterian in the PFL home opener on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PST and will be streamed on ESPN+.