USD overcomes 17-point deficit for walk-off field goal in PFL opener

For the third consecutive week, the University of San Diego faced another slow start, this time coming against St. Thomas in the Pioneer Football League opener Saturday at Torero Stadium.

After trailing by 21 points before coming back to win last week, San Diego trailed by 14 at halftime and by 17 with 7:04 left in the third quarter.

However, the Toreros repeated their comeback performance for a second straight game to pull off a 30-27 victory over the Tommies, highlighted by a walk-off 27-yard field goal by Emiliano Salazar as time expired.

“I’ve always been dreaming about having a walk-off field goal,” Salazar said. “I always pray about opportunities and seizing my moment one play at a time. It was an unforgettable experience.”

As USD (3-2) outscored St. Thomas (2-2) 21-10 in the third quarter, the Toreros special teams recorded a blocked field goal, and the defense recorded a turnover on downs as the lead was cut down to three entering the fourth quarter.

With 53 seconds remaining in regulation and the game knotted at 27, San Diego got a needed turnover as Jake Higgins recovered a fumble at the St. Thomas 11-yard line, setting up Salazar’s heroics.

“I saw the guard was light on his feet,” said Toreros defensive lineman Malachi Cooper, who forced the fumble for Higgins to scoop it up. “He was leaning back. Then I saw it, read it, worked over the top, and then punched the quarterback.”

San Diego head coach Brandon Moore added that the complimentary plays in the second half, including a blocked field goal from Cooper, were crucial to coming back.

“They got close all day,” Moore said of his field goal unit. “Malachi Cooper is always going to be a force in the middle, just how big and explosive that he is. As he started to get push, we knew there was going to be an opportunity for us.”

Offensively, Mater Dei alum Dom Nankil, who completed 11 of 16 passes for 265 yards, threw two touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 41-yard score to Josh Heverly on fourth-and-9 to start the second-half comeback.

“We were across the 50 that I thought it was worth the risk,” Moore said. “I made the decision to go for it on fourth down, and (offensive coordinator Nick Fulton) called a play, and Dom made it happen.”

St. Thomas was led by quarterback Andy Peters, who completed 14 of 26 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns while also adding 61 rushing yards, including a 53-yard touchdown.

The Toreros continue PFL action next week as they travel to Marist on Oct. 4. Kickoff is slated for 9 a.m.