Video: Defensive Resiliency and Power Run sparked Toreros in last week's win

Senior WR Reggie Bell (#3) attempts to dodge three Princeton defenders during a big gain.

Fresh off one of their biggest wins of the season, the University of San Diego Toreros (6-1, 4-1 PFL) travel to Des Moines, Iowa this Saturday for another critical Pioneer Football League contest with the Drake Bulldogs (5-3, 4-1 PFL). The Toreros will be looking for their six straight win while putting an end to Drake's 19-game PFL home win streak.

2014 Prep Football Rankings: Week 10

The Cathedral Catholic Dons get coached up during their landslide victory over St. Augustine. 

 

Games of the Week

#1 Oceanside Pirates (8-0) at La Costa Canyon (5-3)

#7 Ramona Bulldogs (7-1) at Rancho Bernardo (6-2)

 

Toreros win roller coaster battle with Dayton

TORERO STADIUM (10/25/2014) Junior running back Dallas Kessman ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns as the University of San Diego Toreros (6-1, 4-1 PFL) came away with a 40-29 win in a hard-fought Pioneer Football League contest with the Dayton Flyers (5-2, 3-1 PFL).

Down 29-26 facing 3rd and 4 on Dayton's 25-yard line, Keith Williams found freshman tight end Zach Holland for a 24-yard completion that nearly reached the endzone. The play set up a one-yard end zone dive by fullback Chris Campano to give the Toreros a 33-29 lead with 2:01 left to play.

Dayton's final shot to win the game fell short after Will Barto's pass was picked off by linebacker/safety Troy McCleland and returned for 27 yards.

Williams went on to seal the Toreros' fifth straight win with a 13-yard quarterback keeper for the game-clinching touchdown.

Video: #2 Cathedral rolls over St. Augustine

 

 

MESA COLLEGE (10/24/2014) Despite a strong effort from junior running back Elijah Preston, who rushed for 103 yards and all three St. Augustine touchdowns in his return from a high ankle sprain, Cathedral Catholic (8-1) cruised to a 57-22 victory, picking up their eighth straight win of the season.

 

Tale of the Tape: St. Augustine vs. Cathedral

"The Holy Bowl"
#2 Cathedral Catholic Dons (7-1) at St. Augustine Saints (3-4)
Friday, October 24, 2014 @ 7:00 p.m. PT
San Diego Mesa College (Merrill Douglas Stadium)

Series History

First Meeting: Sept. 24, 1966 - USDHS 30, St. Augustine 7
Previous Meeting: Oct. 25, 2013 - St. Augustine 19, Cathedral Catholic 7
Cathedral Catholic leads the all-time series 30-20

Breakdown

In the annual renewal of arguably the biggest rivalry in San Diego County, the Dons will be looking to extend their seven-game win streak, while the Saints hope to turn around a season riddled with injuries and disappointing losses. Since 2008, the winner of this game has gone on to clinch the Eastern League crown. Things shouldn't be any different this time around.

Video: USD Toreros prepare for huge game against Dayton

 

Coming off a hard fought 27-21 win at Butler, the University of San Diego Toreros (5-1, 3-1 PFL) return home to Torero Stadium for a very important Pioneer Football League matchup with the Dayton Flyers (5-1, 3-0 PFL).

 

The last time these teams met, the Flyers handed the Toreros their only PFL loss of last season with a 45-38 win in two overtimes.
 

2014 Prep Football Rankings: Week Nine

San Pasqual is no longer winless after knocking off previously undefeated Orange Glen 21-6.

Games of the Week

#2 Cathedral Catholic Dons (7-1) at St. Augustine Saints (3-4)

#9 Steele Canyon Cougars (6-1) at #4 El Capitan Vaqueros (7-0)

Toreros avoid second half rally to top Butler

Sophomore CB Jamal Agnew (#26) picked off two passes against Butler, he has four on the season.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (10/18/2014) The University of San Diego Toreros (5-1, 3-1 PFL) led 21-0 going into halftime, but the Butler Bulldogs (3-4, 1-3 PFL) rallied back in the second half outscoring the Toreros 21-6. Thanks to a pair of field goals by David Last and a defensive stand during the closing seconds, the Toreros managed to escape with their fourth straight win.

Quarterback Keith Williams, who sat out last week's contest with a hand injury, completed 20 of 28 passes for 251 yards and a four-yard touchdown to freshman tight end Ross Dwelley that gave the Toreros a 7-0 lead with 6:44 left in the half.

Prep Football Games to Watch (Week 8): Rivalry Edition

#3 Helix Highlanders (5-1) at Mount Miguel Matadors (3-3)

All-Time Series: Helix leads 41-16

The Highlanders are coming off three consecutive shutouts, the latest being a 41-0 trashing of then-undefeated Steele Canyon. They now travel to Spring Valley to take on the Matadors, who are looking to bounce back from a 38-26 loss to Valhalla. These teams will face off for the Claymore Sword, a trophy that's been in the Highlanders' possession since 2010.

Players to Watch: Quarterback Michael Austin and halfback Nathan Stinson powers an offensive track meet that helped Helix outscore their last three opponents 125-0. Last week the speedy duel combined for four touchdowns.

Orange Glen Patriots (6-0) at San Pasqual Golden Eagles (0-5)

All-Time Series: San Pasqual leads 25-14-1

Orange Glen will be looking to go 7-0 for the first time since 1988, but first they must break a seven-game losing skid to cross-town nemesis San Pasqual in the "Battle of Bear Valley Parkway". Since their overtime loss to Cathedral Catholic in last year's San Diego Section Division I championship game, the Golden Eagles have fallen on some hard times. They're still in search of their first win of 2014 after losing 21 seniors and returning only two starters from last season's 11-2 finish.

Player to Watch: Junior running back Roger Rickman leads Orange Glen's ground attack with 913 yards (4th in the county) and 12 touchdowns (tied for 3rd). He rushed for more than 130 yards in his last five games, and is averaging 152.2 on the season.

2014 Prep Football Rankings: Week Eight

Oceanside is back on top after avenging a two-game losing skid to Mission Hills last Friday.

 

The Pirates rule the seas once again

 

Mission Hills' reign as the top team in the county came to an end last Friday after falling 42-16 at Oceanside. The Pirates take over the number one spot for the first time since the Grizzlies knocked them out of it last season.

 

CIF Finals to be played at Southwestern College

 

The CIF San Diego Section announced last week that the championship games for all six divisions will take place at the newly renovated DeVore Stadium. Qualcomm Stadium was unavailable this season due to scheduling conflicts.

Chargers overcome a strong effort from winless Raiders

 

OAKLAND (10/12/2014) Raiders rookie Derek Carr had an impressive performance throwing for 282 yards and four touchdowns, but his lone interception to rookie cornerback Jason Verrett with 1:52 left to play proved to be costly. The Oakland native's first career pick helped the San Diego Chargers (5-1) escaped the Black Hole with a 31-28 win on Sunday.

Carr had his way with the Chargers' defense all game, beginning with the opening drive. The rookie out of Fresno State found receiver Andre Holmes, who exploded with a long catch and run for a touchdown. The 77-yard strike was the Raiders' (0-5) longest play from scrimmage this season.

Toreros hang on to beat Stetson 31-23

The USD Toreros sported purple game apparel in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

TORERO STADIUM (10/11/2014) Sophomore Jonah Hodges rushed for two touchdowns and a school-record 273 yards to help the San Diego Toreros (4-1, 2-1 PFL) survive a scare over the visiting Stetson Hatters (2-4, 0-2 PFL).

The original mark was set by Sammy Croom who ran for 271 yards against Azusa Pacific in 1972.

2014 Prep Football Rankings: Week Seven

Mission Hills & Oceanside will meet again for the first time since the 2013 Open Division Championship.

Games of the Week

#1 Mission Hills Grizzlies (4-1) at #2 Oceanside Pirates (5-0)
Series History: Oceanside leads 5-2-1.

Oceanside and Mission Hills will face off as the top two teams in the county for the third time within a 13-month span. The last meeting took place during the inaugural Open Division Championship Game in 2013, where the Grizzlies pulled off a 36-14 win to clinch their first section title in program history. Before that was a regular season contest on Sept. 27th that saw the #2 Grizzlies stun the #1 Pirates 30-6, earning their first win of the all-time series.

#6 Steele Canyon Cougars (5-0) at #4 Helix Highlanders (4-1)
Series History: Helix leads 12-2.

After completing non-league play unblemished, Steele Canyon's undefeated status will be put to the ultimate test as they get set to face a gauntlet, better known as the realigned Grossmont Hills League. The new setup pits the top East County programs in the same league. Kicking off this grueling schedule is perennial powerhouse Helix, who currently owns a 26-game win streak against their East County foes. The streak dates back to 2009, the same season the Cougars were last victorious over the Highlanders. Steele Canyon had an extra week to prepare for this game, while Helix is fresh off a 42-0 routing of Bonita Vista.

Chargers blank the Jets 31-0

Photo Credit: BobbyRubio.com

QUALCOMM STADIUM (10/05/2014) After running back Donald Brown left the game with a concussion, Branden Oliver took over and gave the injury-plagued run game a much needed boost.

The rookie free agent out of Buffalo carried the ball 19 times for 114 yards and added four catches for 68 yards in his breakout performance. He also recorded his first two career touchdowns as the San Diego Chargers (4-1) dominated the New York Jets (1-4) for their fourth straight win.

San Diego Football Friday Recap

#6 El Capitan remains undefeated after a come-from-behind win over previously-undefeated Granite Hills.

 

Prep Football Top 10 Results: Week 6

 

#1 Mission Hills (4-1) - Bye

#2 Oceanside (5-0) - Bye

#3 Cathedral Catholic (4-1) - Def. #5 Eastlake 17-14

#4 Helix (4-1) - Def. Bonita Vista 42-0

#5 Eastlake (3-3) - Loss to #3 Cathedral Catholic 14-17

#6 El Capitan (5-0) - Def. Granite Hills 28-14

#7 Steele Canyon (5-0) - Bye

#8 La Costa Canyon (4-1) - Bye

#9 St. Augustine (2-4) - Loss to Vista Murrieta 13-15

#10 Ramona (4-1) - Bye

 

Late turnovers spoil Aztecs' comeback bid at Fresno State

FRESNO, CA (10/03/2014) The Old Oil Can will stay at Fresno State for a third straight year after the San Diego State Aztecs (2-3, 1-1 MWC) suffered a 23-14 loss to the Bulldogs (3-3, 2-0 MWC) in a rare Friday night contest.