USD Holds Off Pomona Pitzer

The University of San Diego football team held off a late fourth-quarter drive and beat Pomona Pitzer College, 10-7, Saturday night at Claremont. It was the Toreros’ first win of the season in three tries.

USD was leading, 10-7, with 1:57 to play when Pomona Pitzer gained possession on its 31-yard line, following a USD punt. Pomona Pitzer had advanced to the USD 18 when quarterback Robert Bristow completed a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Jeff Berger. But Berger fumbled, and linebacker Chuck Royer made the recovery with seven seconds left.

USD opened the scoring on a 25-yard field goal by Jack Kratochvil at 5:19 of the first quarter. The Toreros made it 10-0 on a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mike McGarvey to Jeff Mansukhani at 12:20 of the fourth quarter. That capped a 13-play, 53-yard drive, set up by an interception by cornerback Troy Mills.

Pomona Pitzer’s only points came at 9:27 of the fourth quarter, when Bristow hit Jeff Leahy with a 43-yard scoring pass.

Bristow completed 27 of 43 passes for 240 yards for Pomona Pitzer (0-2). McGarvey, who came on for injured USD starting quarterback Pat Dixon, completed 4 of 7 passes for 38 yards. Dixon was 9 of 18 for 845 yards, and was intercepted twice.