Toreros Open Season with a Thrilling Victory Over Cal Poly

SAN DIEGO, CA – In front of a packed crowd of 5,792 fans at Torero Stadium, the San Diego Toreros kicked off their 2024 season in thrilling fashion, securing a 27-21 victory over the Cal Poly Mustangs on Saturday evening. The game was highlighted by a dominant defensive performance, which included three key interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

The Toreros (1-0, 0-0 PFL) set the tone early in the first quarter when senior defensive back Trey Ortega intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown, giving San Diego a 10-0 lead with 3:14 remaining in the quarter. This play energized the Torero faithful and marked Ortega's first collegiate interception and defensive touchdown.

Cal Poly (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky) responded late in the second quarter with a two-yard touchdown pass, cutting San Diego's lead to 10-7 at halftime. The Mustangs then capitalized on a third-quarter fumble by San Diego to take a 14-10 lead, their first of the game.

However, the Torero defense was unyielding. Graduate student Eric Haney intercepted a pass in the third quarter, halting Cal Poly's momentum. On the ensuing drive, San Diego's offense struck quickly, with senior quarterback Grant Sergent connecting with Ja'Seem Reed for a 41-yard pass, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Logan Gingg. This score put San Diego back on top, 17-14, a lead they would not relinquish.

San Diego's defense continued to shine in the fourth quarter. Matt Ballentine intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards for another pick-six, extending the Toreros' lead to 24-14 with just over 13 minutes remaining. Aided by strong special teams play, including a 39-yard field goal by Aidan Lehman, San Diego managed to hold off a late Cal Poly rally.

Cal Poly managed to score another touchdown with 1:05 left in the game, narrowing the gap to 27-21, but San Diego successfully recovered the onside kick attempt, allowing them to run out the clock and secure the victory.

The Torero defense was the story of the game, with three interceptions and two touchdowns proving pivotal. Ortega and Ballentine each recorded their first defensive touchdowns, and Haney added his fourth career interception. 

"We believe the defense is the strength of our team," Ortega said. "We had a really good offseason, and we're just ready to kick off the season."

Offensively, the Toreros were led by Matt Colombo, who rushed for 88 yards on 15 carries, and Sergent, who completed 15 of 24 passes for 154 yards.

Impact Toreros:

Passing: Grant Sergent – 15/24, 154 yards
Rushing: Matt Colombo – 15 carries, 88 yards
Receiving: Ja'Seem Reed – 3 receptions, 56 yards
Defense: Trey Ortega – 5 tackles, 1 interception, 1 TD; Matt Ballentine – 1 interception, 1 TD

Special Teams: Aidan Lehman – 2/2 FGs, 39 Long, 3/3 PATs

Coach's Corner:

Head Coach Brandon Moore praised his team's resilience and defensive prowess: "The secondary played lights out tonight. Scoring twice on defense is a huge advantage, and they kept us in the game when things got tough. It was a great way to start the season."

Looking Ahead: 

San Diego returns to Torero Stadium next week as they host Central Washington on September 7th at 1:00 PM. The Toreros will then hit the road to face North Dakota on September 21 before opening Pioneer Football League play at Drake on September 28.

This season-opening victory against Cal Poly marks another step forward for the Toreros as they look to build on their success and make a strong push in the Pioneer Football League this year.