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(San Diego, CA) - The No. 1 ranked USD Toreros (2-0) dealt the visiting Dixie State College Rebels a 41-7 defeat tonight at Torero Stadium before 3,204 fans. The win improves USD's home field winning streak to 15 straight, and they'll now take a 10-game winning streak to Yale next Saturday when they take on the Bulldogs at 12 noon (EST) at Yale Bowl. Junior QB Josh Johnson completed 20-of-31 passes for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns, and added a 15-yard rushing TD to pace the Torero offense. The defensive unit turned in their second straight outstanding effort limiting the Rebels to 188 yards of offense.
"I thought we played much better tonight," said Torero coach Jim Harbaugh. "The penalties were way down and we looked a lot smoother on both sides of the ball. Offensively Josh was great tonight. He put the ball in his hands and he delivered a great performance. He is a playmaker and got it done for us. Defensively we played exceptional. Our line hit the gaps fast and hard and did a great job with defending the run. Josh Brisco went untested tonight, but Chase McBride and Patrick O'Neill played great ball."
USD's Hutch Parker gave USD a 3-0 lead early in the first period with a 36-yard field goal. On Dixie State's second play from scrimmage following USD's kickoff, QB Levi Manutai was sacked by LB Kyson Hawkins. Hawkins forced a fumble on the play and Torero teammate Jonathan Espe recovered on the Rebels' 14-yard line. Josh Johnson didn't waste any time getting the Toreros in the endzone as he found WR Wes Doyle for the 14-yard TD strike at the 10:10 mark.
USD added three touchdowns and a Hutch Parker 34-yard field goal in the 2nd period to head into halftime with a 34-0 advantage. Johnson connected with WR Taber LaMarr for 23 yards at the 13:12 mark; he hit Ben Hannula for a 39-yard TD with 2:36 left; and he found Doyle again just before halftime with a 7-yard pass with just :07 ticks on the clock. Johnson added his 15-yard TD run with 7:41 to go in the third that capped off an 8-play, 49-yard drive. Dixie State halted USD's chance for a second shutout by driving 72 yards on 11 plays in the final period with Diarra Fields rushing 5 yards for their lone score.
For the USD offense, Johnson's main targets were WR Ben Hannula (7 catches for 135 yards and 1 score) and WR Wes Doyle (7 catches for 69 yards and 2 TDs). JT Rogan led the Toreros on the ground with 12 carries for 40 yards. Defensively USD was paced by LB Tyler Evans (7 tackles), LB Kyson Hawkins (6 tackles, 1 QB sack, 1 forced fumble), DB Gabriel Derricks (5 stops) and DB Joe Staab (5 tackles). Dixie State received 60 rushing yards from junior Bo Hikila on 14 carries, while LB Andrew Hicks totaled a game-high 10 tackles.
