Toreros Down The Devils
In their league finale, the USD Toreros played host to the Arizona State Sun Devils in the curtain-raiser match for the Major League Rugby contest between the San Diego Legion and Miami Sharks.
Prior to kickoff in Torero Stadium, USD Head Coach Charlie Purdon, accompanied by Chief of Academic Success Scott Thomas, presented the club’s eleven departing seniors with graduation stoles. Santiago Arenas, Pluto Wah, Ian Munro, Chase Kamin, Gavin Saville, Micky O'Leary, Josh Butler, Tyler Shelley, Drew Young, Michael Lewis, Paul Habeeb, and captain Dustin Braun took to the field to be recognized for their commitment to the club and for leaving their jerseys in a better state than when they arrived.
With the referee’s whistle, Lucas Troughear sent the ball high into a cloudless San Diego sky and the Toreros immediately applied pressure to ASU’s backline. A knock-on by ASU gave USD a dangerous 5-meter scrum and the Torero backs wasted no time as a four pass strike play saw Jack Porter dive over the line for USD’s first score of the afternoon. While ASU was able to regain possession after the restart and began piecing together some cohesive play, a poised Torero defense methodically pushed the Sun Devils backwards, forcing a desperation kick forward by the visitors. This sequence was replayed time and time again whenever ASU held the ball as the USD line relentlessly drove them backwards, leaving the Sun Devils offense frustrated and without answers.
The patient, punishing Torero defense allowed Troughear and fullback Michael Lewis to remain deadly on counterattacks, as they coordinated deep, penetrating runs through the ASU kick chase, leading to several USD tries. USD would continue to press matters as they raced out to a 34-0 halftime lead, at which point Coach Purdon began emptying his bench. While it took the reserves a moment to get going, some workman-like carries by Drew Young and Josh Butler set up Paul Habeeb for a diving try in the 57th minute. The remainder of the half saw a reinvigorated ASU defense hold USD out of the tryzone until the final three minutes, where two tries by Butler saw the Toreros claim the match 48-0.
USD now awaits the winner of the Northern California regional final between San Jose State University and American River College, the winner of which will travel to San Diego on April 5th to play the Toreros for the California Championship. Stay tuned for more event info and watch the match live on USD Rugby’s exclusive streaming partner, TVX Sports.
USD Seniors receive their graduation stoles in a pre-game ceremony.
Paul Habeeb dives over the tryline in the first half.
Jack Porter focuses on an incoming pass.
Lucas Troughear lines up a conversion as the referee watches.