Saturday, November 25, 2017
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

PFL RESULTS

San Diego 41, Northern Arizona 10

RECAP

San Diego 41, Northern Arizona 10
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – For a second-straight season, San Diego will move on to the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship, defeating Northern Arizona 41-10, Saturday night. San Diego advances to face North Dakota State in the second round for a second consecutive season. 

With San Diego (10-2) up 3-0 after a 24-yard Patrick Murray field goal, Anthony Lawrence connected with Justin Priest who made a highlight reel one-handed catch for a seven-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead. After the teams traded touchdowns, Jonathan Petersen got a key strip sack against NAU quarterback Case Cookus to set up San Diego inside the Northern Arizona 20-yard line. Two plays later, Emilio Martinez burst into the end zone for a 14-yard score and a 24-7 San Diego lead.

The Toreros struck for scores on two of its first three drives in the second half. Murray pushed the USD lead to 27-10 with a 27-yard field goal after a David Tolbert interception. The next San Diego drive was helped mightily by a Lawrence-to-Priest connection for 42 yards to the NAU one-yard line. Zach Nelson scored three plays later and San Diego was out to a 34-10 lead and would never look back.

Lawrence completed 16-of-28 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, two to Ross Dwelley (six receptions, 74 yards) and another to Priest (five receptions, 93 yards). Freshman running back Emilio Martinez ran for 117 yards and a touchdown in his first postseason experience.

Northern Arizona (7-5) was held to 238 offensive yards and committed three turnovers.