It didn’t take a football savant to know that the University of San Diego football team was walking into a precarious, overwhelming environment Saturday afternoon when the visiting Toreros faced Montana State.
The sixth-ranked Bobcats have played in the Football Championship Subdivision national championship game two of the past four years, losing both times. And the hosts came in 0-2, losing to No. 4 Oregon and South Dakota State, the second-ranked team in Division I FCS.
Said USD coach Brandon Moore: “It’s no secret they’re a very good football team.”
Montana State did exactly what you would expect a focused, angry, full-scholarship team would do against a non-scholarship program, routing USD 41-7 at Bobcat Stadium.
The Toreros (1-2) trailed 10-0 after the first quarter and 24-0 at halftime. They were outgained 539 yards to 209. Matt Colombo, who a week earlier rushed for 202 yards on 34 carries in an upset of then-No. 24 Southern Utah, was held to 4 yards on six carries.
“They’re a good football team, and good football teams rebound,” said Moore. “They rebounded after the (46-point) loss to Oregon. They took the No. 2 team into a double-overtime game. They showed up to work today.”
In a span from the second quarter to third quarter, the Bobcats scored touchdowns on four of five possessions, covering 302 yards in 23 plays.
The Bobcats were dominant by air and ground. Quarterback Justin Lamson completed 23 of 26 passes for 293 yards and three TDs. The hosts gained 218 yards rushing, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Down 38-0 early in the fourth quarter, USD averted a shutout, Dom Nankil hitting Josh Heverly with an 8-yard TD pass with 12:59 to play.
From a historical perspective, the touchdown was significant. USD has not been shut out since Oct. 9. 1999, when it lost to Dayton 41-0. The Toreros have now scored in 280 consecutive games.
Moore did not put much significance in the touchdown.
“A loss is a loss,” he said.
Another positive: USD has yet to turn the ball over this season.
“We continued to fight and scrap,” said Moore. “That was our mantra going into the second half. The kids fought.”
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