SAN DIEGO –  San Diego Football grad running back Matt Colombo played hero as the Toreros walked off No. 24 Southern Utah, 30-27, in overtime Saturday night, the Toreros' first ever ranked win at home. 
 
Colombo logged 208 yards on the ground and two total touchdowns, including the winner in overtime, a three-yard rush to bring the bout to an end in overtime. It clinched not only USD's first ranked win since 2017, but the first ever at home and during the regular season.
 
USD junior quarterback Dom Nankil had the Toreros other two rushing touchdowns, three total on the night with one through the air. Sophomore Nate Fischer again led the way on defense with 12 total tackles for a second straight game, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. 
 
After surrendering 17 unanswered points in the closing two minutes and 20 seconds of the game, San Diego got a defensive stop to force a field goal in the first possession of overtime.

Then it was the Toreros' turn. After the Thunderbirds recorded back-to-back penalties, it set up the Toreros at the three-yard line. The rest was history.
 
"Super grateful." Colombo said. "I mean, it's all credit to the O-Line, [Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach] Nick Fulton with the play calling. I just did my job. I saw our attack on the left, Oscar Weigel. He's a true sophomore and a really good player for us. He destroyed the defensive end and Peyton Smith got a good block on the edge. So, just read it, saw the open space, blacked out, and went and scored."
 
The transfer back totaled 10 of the team's 18 first downs, as San Diego recorded 296 yards on the ground, compared to Southern Utah's 82. 
  
San Diego head coach Brandon Moore said the offense was in control all game as junior quarterback Dom Nankil added 78 rushing yards, including a 49-yard touchdown in the fourth quarte and a 10-yard rush to open the scoring in the first quarter.
 
"Speaks volumes of our offensive line," Moore said. "We protected Dom all day and pushed and moved the front all day to allow Matt to have such an explosive day." 
 
In addition to the Toreros' running game having a strong day, the defense also stepped up. After giving up points on the opening possession last week, the San Diego defense did not allow a point until the 4:46 mark of the third quarter. 
 
The defense held strong for four quarters, and the Toreros never trailed in the game. Even after the regulation-ending stretch where Southern Utah recorded 17 points in a span of 94 seconds, the USD defensive unit stuck together for a crucial stop to start overtime.
 
"We didn't panic as a team," the USD head coach said. "Maybe a week ago, maybe a season ago, that may have been the end of us. Any type of success by the opponent, but we battled back. We saw it as another adverse situation, and overcame." 
 
"I think it was important," said senior outside linebacker Tre Moore, who also totaled six tackles and a forced fumble and recovery in the fourth quarter. "We needed to shift the momentum at that time. To get that fumble, I think it was really big for our team just to get in good field position, have an opportunity to score and more points on board."  
 
UP NEXT 
Saturday, Sept. 13, the Toreros will hit the road for the first time, taking on No. 3 Montana State, in Bozeman, Mont. The Bobcats reached the FCS National Championship game last year. 
 
TORERO TIDBITS 

• It was San Diego's first home game against a nationally ranked opponent since Sept. 11, 2021 when No. 12/14 UC Davis traveled to Torero Stadium
• Saturday was also the first time San Diego hosted back-to-back night games, let alone to begin the season since 2015 … The Toreros are now 7-1 in those seven games under the lights at Torero Stadium in those 10 years, the lone loss being week one
• USD logged its first win against a nationally ranked opponent since taking down No. 25 Northern Arizona, 41-10, on Nov. 25, 2017 during the first round of the NCAA FCS playoffs 
• Dom Nankil recorded his first collegiate rushing touchdown from 10 yards out with 12:01 remaining in the second quarter
• Matt Colombo, who recorded 34 carries for 208 yards, logged his first touchdown in a USD uniform, a receiving TD with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter
• Colombo posted the PFL's first 200-yard rushing performance of 2025, just the sceond in FCS this season
• Colombo is the first Torero to rush for 200 or more yards since Isaiah Smith on Nov. 23, 2024 at Morehead State
• The 34 carries are also tied for the third most mark for a single game in program history and most since Jonah Hodges logged 35 rushing attempts against Cal Poly in 2016

POST GAME QUOTES

Head Coach Brandon Moore
 
Opening statement…
I'm just extremely proud of my team. I'm proud of my seniors. I'm proud of how hard they fought and their ability just to rebound from last week. I mean, Cal Poly gave it to us, but just to come back and beat Southern Utah, who's a very, very good football team, who has a lot of talent, just speaks volumes to their commitment and how they work and how they do things every day.
 
On the statement his team made today…
I don't know about a statement. I think if anything, it proves to the players themselves that you know they belong here, they are exactly where they belong, and that we can win, and we can compete at a very high level.
 
On what switched this week after the week one loss…
Well, they were locked in, I think they were locked in for the Cal Poly game. I think about adversity. As soon as that thing struck, we had three defensive pass interference penalties in the first three drives of the game that all led to scores. And that amount of adversity is difficult to overcome. The officials kept the flags in their pockets today, and I think we had five penalties for some like 29 yards. We played a very, disciplined game, and I thought the kids did an amazing job.
 
On winning the possession game, and winning on third downs…
It was a strategy going into it playing a high ranked team like Southern Utah, who does a really effective job at running the football, who can throw the ball down the field. They've got weapons all over the place. We tried to limit their opportunities and limit their ability to get on the field and to get in a rhythm. 
 
On Dom Nankil's growth from week one to week two…
I think he's just continuously growing. The kid hasn't turned the ball over yet. He's done an amazing job operating the offense and moving the sticks, making great decisions, not taking sacks today, especially so he's doing an amazing job just in how he's developing as a young quarterback.
 
On Matt Colombo's impact…
It was amazing. Speaks volumes of our offensive line, who protected Dom all day and then pushed and moved the front all day to allow Matt to have such an explosive day.
 
On how important shutting out SUU through the first half…
It was essential. We're a team that prides itself on stopping the run, and southern Utah rushed for 380 or 320 yards, or something like that. The previous week, they've got the quarterback four who's dynamic as a Wildcat quarterback, and 28 is lights out as a player, has great balance and really steps out of tackles, and being able to contain them, the two of them was, was very,  difficult, but they got it done in that first half, and he had some success in the second half, but we overcame that, and we were able to come out with the win. 
 
On his team giving up a run late in the fourth quarter…
Even more incredible is the fact that we didn't panic as a team, maybe a week ago, maybe a season ago, that may have been the end of us, any type of success by the opponent, but we battled back. We saw it as another adverse situation, and overcame it.
 
On how clutch his defense was getting a stop in overtime to force a field goal…
It was incredible. They did an awesome job, especially giving up the two minute drive before half where they were able to tie it up. We thought they were going to go for two and try to ice the game. Providing the defense an opportunity to step on the field after they'd given up that last touchdown, and those guys coming up and really honing it in and holding them to a field goal was impressive.
 
On how to carry the momentum forward into next week…
Well, I think we're trying to change the image of Torero football. I think Torero football is trying to turn a corner. We're trying to play ranked schools, we're trying to play high caliber opponents to try to thrust the program in a different direction.

Grad Running Back Matt Colombo

On his feelings following the win…
I'm just excited for our guys. They put in a lot of work this off season and come back from last week's game, put in a lot of work this week. Just really grateful and excited for what we have coming forward. 
 
On his thoughts regarding the close game…
Yeah. I mean, we had ran the ball pretty well all game, so I was pretty confident we'd be able to do that in overtime, it's really about executing. When it comes down to those big moments, everybody wants it, everybody's excited. So who can execute better? And so I was telling the guys like it's all about how we can do it, and being process oriented in that is really huge. So just a credit to our coaches, and the O line, and Dom, and all the receivers.
 
On the statement his team made tonight…
USD is back. That's all I gotta say with that one. We're gonna compete our a** off, and we're excited to be here.
 
On his usage tonight…
Man, it's been a while. It's been a long journey. I'm grateful to be where I'm at now. I'm just excited for what we got going forward.
 
On the last time he had 30+ carries… 
Before high school. Honestly, it was a long time ago, but it's been a long time coming, and I'm just so grateful that God's given me the opportunity to do it.
 
On how much his team's early lead helped… 
Yeah, it's really nice when you're playing from ahead. So once we were able to get a couple first downs, get our offense rolling, get some points on the board. It helps the defense out, helps the game momentum wise. So doing that was huge for us today, and hopefully we continue to do that next week. 
 
On his quarterback's RPO read that ended in a rushing touchdown…
I mean, he pulled it really late. I thought I was going to get it for the first half of that exchange, and then I didn't get it. I got tackled to the ground, and I was laughing, because I already knew I heard the band going crazy and I heard everybody going wild, and I was just on the floor. I couldn't see it, but I knew it was something good.
 
On getting the game winning touchdown…
Super grateful. I mean, it's all credit to the o-line, coach Fulton, with the play calling. I just did my job. Saw our attack on the left, Oscar Wiegel. He's a true sophomore, really good player for us. He destroyed the D-end, and Peyton Smith got a good block on the edge. So I just read it, saw the open space, blacked out, and just went and scored.
 
On how his team played a clean game…
I credit to discipline the culture that's been set by coach Moore all the way down the staff. It works in games like this. You don't know why it's important on a Wednesday in the summer, it's not important when you're cleaning up your locker, when you're coming on time, and you're doing all the little things right. But when you get in big games like this, in big moments, it shows up. And that's what we've been changing here at USD, and I'm really excited for it. 
 
On Tre Moore's fumble recovery…
Huge. I mean, Tre's a dog. I've been telling Tre the last three weeks that he can be one of the biggest players in the FCS on defense, and he showed it today. He kept balling the whole defense. Really put out a great performance, throwing a shutout in the first half. I mean, that's phenomenal against the top ranked opponent. So credit to all those guys. And Tre's really doing his thing. So I'm excited for him. 
 
On how the team's going to prepare for Montana State…
Obviously we're going to do our scouting and look, look to the teams ahead, but it's really about us. It's how you come out each week, it's how you execute. It's being disciplined, not having penalties, and doing what the coaches tell us. You know, I mean, they're going to give some positions to make plays. All you can ask for is to be one-on-one in space, and I think they've given us a lot of opportunities to do that, so we're just worried about doing our job, aligning, executing, and doing a high level and we'll look up and see what happens.
 
On how big of an impact the O-line had in limiting sacks…
That's big. We need him for a long season, and he runs the ball, so he doesn't need extra hits. It's a huge credit to the line. I mean, they balled out tonight. So really proud of them, and just excited for what we got.