San Diego scored on a 69-yard pass with under 10 minutes remaining to slip past Morehead State 13-7 Saturday afternoon at a Pioneer League game at Jayne Stadium.
Justin Fontenberry gave USD the lead in the fourth, finding Eric Feige wide open for 69 yards and the touchdown. The score held despite three Eagle chances to drive for the winning touchdown, but the best chance ended on a fourth-down sack of Zach Lewis on the San Diego 38 yard line.
"The one play where we gave up the touchdown, you know it's only one play and we had other opportunities that we couldn't finish," MSU coach Matt Ballard said.
The Toreros, who scored first on a 26-yard field goal by Mike Levine, had trailed for most of the game after MSU freshman Winston Bodrick returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to set up the Eagles' only touchdown. Freshman quarterback Zach Lewis found senior Jerrod Pendleton on a short pass that Pendleton turned into a score after weaving his way through traffic into the endzone.
San Diego (4-6, 3-5 PFL) added another Levine field goal, this one from 39 in the third quarter, but still trailed 7-6 until Feige long catch and run.
USD outgained Morehead 340-230 in total yards, but two Kameron Scott interceptions stopped Torero drives. San Diego forced a drive-stopping turnover, knocking the ball out of Pendleton's hands on the USD five yard line after the Eagles had moved the ball 61 yards.
Sophomore Desmond Cox led MSU on the ground with 43 yards on 13 carries and Lewis was 20-of-40 for 196 yards with a touchdown. Pendleton had four catches for 41 yards. Defensively sophomore Tony Bachman made 11 tackles for MSU and senior Wes McDermott had 10.
"We weren't able to run the ball the way we wanted to," Ballard said. "We did some great things with our passing game, but didn't finish. I am pleased with the plays that we did make."
Phil Morelli gained 60 yards on 14 carries for the Toreros. Quarterback Bo Stompro was 19-of-25 for 191 yards. John McGough had seven catches for 72 yards and Fiege made five catches for 90 yards.
Loka Kanongataa had eight tackles to lead the USD defense. San Diego also sacked Lewis seven times.
"Our confidence today is a great sign for us and a great thing to carry over to Valparaiso," Ballard said.MSU honored its departing seniors prior to the game.
Morehead State (2-8, 0-7 PFL) will close out its season next week at Valparaiso at 1 pm ET.
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