Saturday, November 26, 2016
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Running back Jonah Hodges ran for three touchdowns, leading San Diego to a 35-21 victory against Cal Poly in the opening round of the Division I Football Championship, Saturday.

The win was the first by a Pioneer Football League team in the championship in just the fourth year of the league gaining an automatic bid into the tournament.

Hodges finished the game with 171 rushing yards on 35 carries. He alone outgained the Cal Poly run game, which entered the postseason ranked No. 1 in the FCS but was held to 146 yards on 47 attempts as a team.

Hodges three touchdown runs each came a critical moments for the Toreros. His first scoring scamper opened the game's scoring just 1:30 into the contest. Nearly 30 minutes of game time later, Hodges' second touchdown run broke a 14-14 tie and kept the Toreros ahead of the Mustangs with 8:27 left in the third quarter. He then sealed the win with a five-yard touchdown run with 2:26 left in the contest.

San Diego quarterback Anthony Lawrence completed 26-of-41 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Brian Riley caught six of those passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

The Toreros advance to the second round of the championship where they will face No. 1 seed North Dakota State in a 2 p.m. (ET), Saturday contest.