Toreros win Pioneer League

USD clinches FCS playoffs spot in remarkable 56-52 win

Anderson Haigler/Sports Editor/The USD Vista

When Anthony Lawrence fired a touchdown pass to Michael Bandy with 14:05 to play in the first quarter, it appeared that it was business as usual for the Toreros. With Lawrence connecting with his favorite receiver early on, USD looked to be well on their way to their 34th consecutive home conference victory on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Torero Stadium. However, the remaining 44 minutes and five seconds of USD’s matchup against Davidson University — who USD defeated by more than 50 points last season — were anything but routine. What followed the Toreros’ early score marked the most absurd, entertaining, and gritty football that USD has played so far this season. But perhaps most importantly, when the dust settled on a wild game that featured nearly 1,500 yards of total offense, the Toreros were 56-52 winners, and champions of the Pioneer Football League for the fifth consecutive season. 

The madness began on the Wildcats’ second possession. After receiving the Torero punt that pinned them on their own six yard line, Davidson needed precisely one play to tie the game, with sophomore running back Wesley Dugger dashing 94 yards for a touchdown to even the score at seven. Just over a minute later, Davidson’s William Wicks followed up with a 90-yard rushing score of his own. Five minutes and a Wildcat field goal later, Keylan Brown put Davidson on the scoreboard once again in hauntingly similar fashion, sprinting 80 yards to the end zone to extend his team’s advantage. All of a sudden, the Wildcats had more than tripled their seven total points against the Toreros last season, and led 24-7 on the backs of three dramatic, breakout running plays. Though each of the first three scores were by different players, the rushes were so similar both in length and play design that they resembled carbon copies of each other. At the conclusion of the first half, one thing became abundantly clear: USD was not going to be able to stop the Davidson run game.

While the Wildcats were busy taking the lead over the Toreros in the first period, the USD offense was completely unable to get going beyond their first-minute score. After their first drive, the Toreros next six drives ended in either a punt, turnover on downs, or an interception. 

During their cold spell, the Davidson defense emphatically shut down all facets of the USD offense, holding them to just 112 total yards. Their run game got them nowhere, and Lawrence struggled to get much of anything done, watching countless passes get broken up by an unusually effective Wildcat secondary. 

 Things looked most grim for the Toreros near the beginning of the second quarter. Yet another rushing touchdown from Davidson, this time a two-yard effort, gave the Wildcats a commanding 31-7 lead that was as impressive as it was shocking. As the stunned Torero bench attempted to collect themselves and prepare to mount a comeback, just how much was on the line for USD became clear: a chance at winning the PFL outright. A 33-game streak of home wins against PFL opponents. A 27-game overall PFL winning streak. And an FCS-leading 20-game home-win streak. All in significant jeopardy against a Davidson team that the Toreros beat by a score of 63-7 last season.

As has been evident in many of the final scores this year, USD’s season thus far has been characterized by high-octane efforts on offense, and at times weak efforts on defense. Their first quarter of play certainly demonstrated their frequently futile defensive efforts, but their high-flying offense was nowhere to be found. Staring down a 24-point deficit, the Toreros knew they had to change something to climb their way back into the game, but the question was how? For veteran quarterback Anthony Lawrence, it was a matter of taking things one play at a time.

“We knew we couldn’t get a 25-point play,” Lawrence said. “So we knew we had to chip away at it, we couldn’t get it all back at once, so we had to keep pushing and stay persistent and keep grinding.”

Persistence, indeed. What began at the top of the second quarter was an offensive tour de force for the redshirt senior, jumpstarting his team’s comeback effort with a masterful 30-yard pass to Bandy. A Davidson touchdown later, Lawrence and the Toreros wasted no time in responding, this time hitting sophomore running back Emilio Martinez for a 71-yard touchdown strike. Slowly but surely, the Toreros were clawing their way back into the game on the back of an outstanding performance from the most prolific passer in USD history.  Lawrence, however, was far from finished. The La Mesa, Calif. native continued to light up the scoreboard, twice targeting first-year tight end Dalton Kincaid for touchdown passes, the final of which brought the Toreros within three points of the Wildcats with just seconds remaining in the first half. When time expired on a sensational first half of play, the Toreros trailed by just a 38-35 margin, nearly completing an improbable comeback in one quarter alone. Equally as striking as the scoreboard was the stat sheet on both sides. Davidson’s offense put up a ridiculous 551 rushing yards in the first half alone, while USD mustered 320 first-half passing yards in their near-complete comeback effort. 

The Toreros entered the locker room after the first half with a score that was a testament to both their utter failure on defense and their astonishing effort on offense. Bandy spoke about what USD football head coach Dale Lindsey’s message was to his team at the half.

“It wasn’t the best message, he kinda scared us a little bit, but he definitely told us what we had to do, and then we figured it out,” Bandy said. 

Lindsey explained his halftime message to his team.

“We’re always talking about how it’s a 60-minute game,” Lindsey said. “At that point there were still 30 minutes left. It didn’t look real good, but I just told them we gotta keep playing, figure out a way to get it done. So what we’re down, keep playing, we still have a chance to win.”

When USD took the field for the second half, their problems on defense remained. Davidson wasted no time in attempting to extend their now-slim lead, adding on with yet another rushing touchdown, making the score 45-35 in favor of the Wildcats. 

While the majority of the Toreros’ points last Saturday came via lengthy passes from Lawrence, it would be a rushing touchdown that would keep USD in the game early in the third quarter. As he did the last time the Toreros were at home, junior wide receiver Michael Armstead sprinted 98 yards for a spectacular touchdown on a kickoff return, making the score 45-35 Davidson. 

As the game entered its final quarter, the feel of the contest was as dramatic as any USD home game this season. With darkness setting in and the lights at Torero Stadium turned on, the stage was set both literally and metaphorically for USD to attempt to complete an unbelievable comeback. A crowd of 3,115 fans were on the edges of their seats, the Toreros’ largest of the season by more than 100 people. Though at least a third of them were Davidson fans, who as a whole traveled exceptionally well, the late-game drama had Torero Stadium alive in a way that the venue had not yet seen this season, creating a high-stakes atmosphere as the Toreros battled with Davidson late in the game.

After a dramatic goal line stand that saw the Torero defense stop the Wildcats on fourth down on their own one yard line, the Torero offense took over at the same spot, essentially working out of their own endzone. On second down and 10, Lawrence dumped off a quick pass to Bandy, who outmaneuvered the lone defender near him, shedding a tackle and breaking free for a 99-yard touchdown completion that gave the Toreros their first lead since the first minute of the first quarter of the game. Bandy spoke about his lengthy, go-ahead touchdown.

“It felt great,” Bandy said. “(Lawrence) tossed me the ball and I was able to slip a tackle and get loose, for the long touchdown. It was awesome.”

Now ahead 49-45 with just 9:30 left in the game, USD would now attempt to cling to their three-point lead as they resumed play on defense. Somehow, however, their slim lead did not feel like enough, and the Torero faithfuls’ collective breaths remained held as the USD defensive unit took the field. A shared hunch doubting the USD defense would prove to be accurate. 

The last of many Davidson touchdown runs put the Wildcats back on top 52-49, leaving just 2:38 for the Toreros’ last chance at a comeback. Two minutes and 38 seconds for the best quarterback in USD history to attempt to lead his team to victory one last time at home. The redshirt senior would need only a fraction of that time to put his team back on top. As he has done so many times this season, as he had done so many times in the game last Saturday, as has become a staple at Torero Stadium and around the PFL, Lawrence sent a 46-yard pass to Michael Bandy that brought the Toreros to the Davidson 20-yard line, setting the table for the final step in the Toreros’ comeback. With 1:54 remaining in the Toreros’ final home game of the season, Lawrence targeted Bandy one last time, firing a 20-yard completion to the junior that gave the Toreros a 56-52 lead. Anthony Lawrence and Michael Bandy: a quarterback/wide receiver pairing for the ages. Lawrence spoke about his connection with his star wide receiver, adding in that an unconventional method of preparation earlier in the day may have foreshadowed their collective success.

“We worked together all offseason,” Lawrence said. “We actually played Fortnite duos this morning and got the win, so we knew we were locked in.”

Bandy described his relationship with his quarterback on Senior Day.

“I think we’re both still speechless,” Bandy said. “He’s one of my best friends, and it was awesome to play that last home game with him.”

After taking a four-point lead with 1:43 remaining in the game, the Toreros were able to successfully hang on for the win, stopping the Wildcats on defense, proceeding to run down the clock in their ensuing possession. When time expired on what proved to be the most wild game in recent memory at Torero Stadium, USD football were 56-52 victors, and PFL Champions. A raucous on-field celebration unfolded after the final seconds ticked off the clock, with the Torero bench excitedly storming the field as the win became final to pose for pictures with the PFL trophy. Lawrence, who had a school-record 556 passing yards in the game, described the win.

“Oh man, it was an electric game the whole way through,” Lawrence said. “Being down 31-7 in the second quarter, it was not where you wanted to be, it’s not where we wanted to put ourselves. The offense didn’t execute in the first quarter but we had a lot of guys make a lot of plays, and that’s what you need to be successful. We’re gonna tighten it up next week, and hopefully not make it that close.”

Despite the wild nature of the win, Lawrence said he was glad to win the conference outright.

“It’s incredible,” Lawrence said. “When I got here, that’s what they preached, ‘we win the PFL,’ and being able to continue that is everything I could ask for.”

Bandy offered his assessment of the game.

“It was awesome; I’m still speechless,” Bandy said. “It was a crazy game, high scoring, we definitely had to pick up our defense and we definitely did so today.”

As Bandy mentioned, the Toreros’ dramatic victory came in the face of a horrible defensive performance. So horrible, in fact, that the Toreros earned the dubious distinction of setting the record for most rushing yards allowed in a single NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) game, with their 789 yards shattering the 30-year-old record of 681. USD football head coach Dale Lindsey discussed his team’s performance.

“We’re lucky as hell,” Lindsey said. “We didn’t play that well. I thought we played an excellently-coached and prepared Davidson team who probably was the best team today, we just came out on the high end of the score, that’s all.” 

Though he said that he didn’t want to discredit the Wildcats’ performance, Lindsey stated that their success may have been a result of self-inflicted errors on the Toreros’ part.

“They ran some stuff that we haven’t seen, that we haven’t practiced,” Lindsey said. “It’s still no excuse. We had some guys that just didn’t do what the defense asked them to do. Basically those 28 points in the first half rest solely on poor execution of defense, and just not doing what they’re doing.”

The Toreros’ record of rushing yards allowed was far from the only record they set on Saturday, however. Lawrence set a myriad of records in his final home game; he became the PFL’s all-time leader in career passing yards with 12,017, tied Josh Johnson for most career touchdown passes in USD football history with 113, tied the program record with seven touchdowns in a single game, set USD record for most passing yards in a single season (3,496), became USD’s all-time leader in career total offense with 12,061 yards, and he now has a career-high 3,496 passing yards in single season, eclipsing his previous season high of 3,131. 

Lawrence spoke about the record-breaking aspect of his huge day.

“I’ve never had a game quite like that,” Lawrence said. “It’s awesome, the coaches putting us in good situations and we got a lot of guys making plays. To be able to do that is awesome.” 

Lindsey praised his quarterback after the game, expressing appreciation for all Lawrence has done for the program. 

“What he did today is what we expect all the time,” Lindsey said. “This guy has been fantastic since he walked on campus. We’re gonna miss him dearly. I think he is the one driving factor behind the success in this program the last four years.”

Though the game as a whole had more than its fair share of ups and downs, Lawrence said he wouldn’t have wanted to finish his home career as a Torero any other way.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way,” Lawrence said. “I couldn’t imagine going out any other way. It hasn’t hit me that that was my last game on that field, my last game wearing the Torero blue out there. It’s tough, but it’s exciting, it’s a great way to go out. You know, I’m crushed that it’s over here, but we got a lot of big things to do this postseason.”

The Toreros’ 56-52 win over Davidson moves them to 8-2 (7-0 PFL) on the season, and earned them their seventh PFL title in the last eight years, as well as their fifth consecutive. In addition, the conference championship earns USD an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs, and they will find out who they play in the first round during the FCS selection show this Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  

Next week they will travel to Marist College in New York for their final game of the season at 9 a.m. PST. 

The game will be broadcast on ESPN radio on 1700 AM., and live statistics and tweets will be available on both the USD football website and Twitter account.