In each of the last two meetings between University of San Diego football and Drake, Drake won on the final play.
For the third consecutive year, winning at the horn turned out to be the difference.
Despite leading for much of the game, San Diego lost at the end of regulation, 19-16, as Drake kicker and Cathedral Catholic alum Harry Balke recorded a 55-yard field goal as time expired.
“They play 60 minutes of football, and that’s to their credit,” USD head coach Brandon Moore said of Drake. “But they did a great job keeping the game manageable.”
On the previous play before the game-ending kick, Drake quarterback Chase Spellman dropped back to pass and, with USD pressuring, threw an incomplete pass. Referees deemed that there was a receiver in the area, and no intentional grounding penalty was called.
“I asked (the referees) if I could review it,” Moore said. “I told them that there was clearly nobody in the area. The ball didn’t reach the line of scrimmage, and the quarterback was trying to chuck it away. They said it wasn’t reviewable. I couldn’t review if there was somebody in the area. It was moot, because they ruled somebody in the area.
“It would be nice for us to have our own officials, be nice for us to be able to hold them accountable in times like this, when calls are pretty dicey.”
The Toreros had their opportunities. USD allowed Nick Herman and Luke Woodson, Drake’s top two running backs, to record 6.4 and 7.9 yards per carry, respectively, including Woodson’s 33-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead with 3:53 left in the second quarter.
“We were there. We just didn’t tackle very well,” Moore said about his team’s run defense. “When things like that happen, you go back to fundamentals: running your feet on contact and grab and claw.”
Despite the touchdown, USD immediately punched back.
On third-and-8, the Toreros went to the bottom of the play sheet.
Tyler Voss took the snap and threw a backward pass to punt returner Yosei Takahashi, who then threw it downfield to wide receiver Cole Monach, breaking a couple of tackles for a 73-yard touchdown to take a 13-7 lead with 2:35 left before halftime.
“He’s lefty, so it spins the wrong way,” Monach said of Takahashi. “I told him there’s a 50-50 chance I can catch it. But it just worked out.”
USD has a bye before playing at Davidson on Oct. 25. Kickoff between the Toreros and the Wildcats is set for 9 a.m.
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