VALPARAISO, Ind. – San Diego football's running game has been a force to be reckoned with and has only improved since grad back Matt Colombo returned a few weeks ago. 
 
The running game was once again on display as San Diego made the trip Saturday to Valparaiso where Colombo and senior back Adam Criter ran nuclear in a 43-27 Pioneer Football League win over the Beacons. 
 
Colombo recorded 15 carries for 121 yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with an receiving touchdown. Additionally, Criter totaled 26 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
San Diego (6-4, 4-2 PFL) scored in every quarter against Valparaiso (1-9, 0-6 PFL) to extend its winning streak to three. 
 
To start the game, after sophomore kicker/punter Emilaino Salazar opened the scoring with the first of his three field goals from 39 yards out, the running game began as Colombo helped the Toreros add on with his 11-yard receiving touchdown to take a 10-0 lead. That touchdown was fueled by junior Yosei Takahashi's 33-yard punt return, setting up Colombo on the ensuing play, exactly like the week prior against Dayton. 
 
The hosts led at halftime, however, 14-13 after Salazar's 43-yard field goal was one-upped by a Valpo touchdown with 12 seconds remaining in the half.
 
The back-and-forth battle continued into the third quarter as the Beacons took a 21-20 lead on a 100-yard kickoff return after a 9-yard rushing score by Criter. San Diego got right back on offense, scoring 16 unanswered points to take a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. 
 
During that stretch, Colombo recorded touchdowns from three and 36 yards out as Emiliano Salazar kicked a 21-yard field goal in between the graduate student's two scores. 
 
Prior to Colombo's 36-yard touchdown run, senior captain safety Ruben Lopez recorded a red zone interception, setting up a seven-play, 90-yard Toreros drive with Colombo punching it home with six minutes left in the game. 
 
On that drive, Colombo recorded four carries, including a 29-yard scamper one play before his 36-yard run. 
 
San Diego got its first lead of the second half, compiling a nine-play, 75-yard drive, ending in Criter's first touchdown from nine yards out, giving the Toreros a 20-14 lead. 
 
With 15 seconds remaining on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line, the Criter punched through, settling the score at 43-27 and giving San Diego its second 40-point game in its last two road games, third of the season.
 
TORERO TIDBITS

• With the victory, San Diego has won 16 of the last 18 meetings against Valparaiso, dating back to 2004
• For the third consecutive game, San Diego recorded multiple interceptions, posting a season-high three picks – one each by Lopez, sophomore Jack Munro and senior Jake Higgins 
• For Munro and Higgins, it marked their first career interceptions while Lopez logged his third straight game with a pick, fourth of the season 
• Lopez's interception, which came with 10:07 left in the fourth quarter, marked his 10th pick of his collegiate career, moving him to eighth all-time in program history 
• Sophomore linebacker Nate Fischer led USD tacklers with six total, four solo, Lopez being right behind with five total, four solo
• The 485 total yards by the San Diego offense is the second-most this season, most since the Toreros faced Princeton (Sept. 20)
• With 121 rushing yards, Matt Colombo logged his second 100-yard game of the season and most since his 202-yard rushing performance against Southern Utah (Sept. 6)
• Saturday marked Colombo's first game in a USD uniform with multiple rushing touchdowns  
• Adam Criter recorded his second straight 100-yard game and fourth this season
• In his last three games, Criter has five touchdowns, including two Saturday and two at Davidson (Oct. 25)
• Junior quarterback Dom Nankil completed 21-of-29 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown
• Salazar's 14 points marks a new season-high with his five made PATs and three field goals

 
UP NEXT 
San Diego returns home for its final home game of 2025 and Senior Day when it hosts Butler at Torero Stadium. Kickoff between the Toreros and the Bulldogs is slated for 1 p.m. The game will also be streamed live on ESPN+ with Jack Cronin and George Whitfield Jr. on the call.