Toreros rally to beat Butler, secure winning season

There was rain. There were torn chunks of grass flying through the air. A snap sailed over a punter’s head and into the end zone.

More importantly, as far as the home team was concerned, there was a University of San Diego victory. On a soggy Saturday afternoon, USD scored 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Butler for a 29-7 win at Torero Stadium.

USD trailed 7-6 going into the fourth quarter, but took the lead with 10:58 to play when Butler snapped the ball over the punter’s head. The punter landed on the ball in the end zone for a safety and 8-7 USD lead.

The Toreros closed with a rush, scoring three straight touchdowns. They came on a Matt Colombo 8-yard run, a 43-yard pass from Dom Nankil to Josh Heverly and a 3-yard Adam Criter run.

The win clinched a winning season for USD (7-4, 5-2 Pioneer Football League). USD closes the season next week at Stetson. Butler fell to 5-6 and 3-4.

Butler came into the game averaging 167.1 yards rushing. The Bulldogs were held to 75 yards on the ground and 2.1 yards per carry.

Nankil completed 9 of 17 passes for 218 yards and a TD for USD. Colombo rushed for 113 yards on 21 carries.

As for clinching a winning record, USD head coach Brandon Moore said, “I think that’s the expectation of the program.”

The win also meant that 25 seniors and graduate students honored before the game won their final game at Torero Stadium.

“To leave this place with a win and the type of win we had speaks volumes,” said Moore. “I”m happy and super proud of my team for taking that motivation and sending the seniors out the right way.”