SEPT. 27 2008

DES MOINES, IOWA -- Phil Morelli and John Matthews each scored two touchdowns in the first half to stake San Diego to a 28-7 lead then the Toreros held off a spirited second-half rally to spoil Drake's homecoming, 43-17, Saturday at Drake Stadium.

San Diego, picked to win the league title in the preseason coaches poll, improved to 4-0 including two Pioneer Football League victories on the road. Drake fell to 2-2.

The Toreros rolled up 246 yards total offense in the first half before being limited to just 101 yards in the second half by Drake.

The Bulldogs' offense came alive in the second half, nearly doubling the Toreros in total offense by accumulating 194 yards.

Senior quarterback Ben Ostermann (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), making his fourth career start, collected 258 yards total offense for Drake, passing for a career-high 202 yards.

San Diego took advantage of an Ostermann interception on the first play of the game by marching 30 yards in five plays capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Sebastian Trujillo to Matthews to grab a 7-0 lead with 12:19 left in the first half.

Morelli added touchdown runs of four and seven yards to push the advantage to 21-0.

Matthews then set a school career touchdown reception record at 38 by hauling in a 39-yard scoring strike from Trujillo with 6:32 left in the second quarter.

Osterman directed the Bulldogs on two time-consuming scoring drives of 75 and 80 yards.

The Bulldogs scored their first touchdown on a five-yard halfback option pass from sophomore Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) to junior Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) with 56 seconds left in the first half.

Drake opened the second half by recovering an onside kick on its own 44 yardline. Ostermann completed passes of 22 and 19 yards to Spencer Cady (Fort Dodge, Iowa) and Frank Pucher (Skokie, Ill.), respectively, while leading Drake to the San Diego five yardline.

Drake senior Logan Rees (West Des Moines, Iowa) ended the scoring drive with a 22-yard field goal with 11:42 left in the third period.

Ostermann threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pucher with 6:08 remaining in the game.

Fifth-year senior Zach Brower (West Des Moines, Iowa) led Drake with six receptions for 49 yards, while Platek and fifth-year senior Michael Bialas caught four passes apiece.

Trujillo passed for 212 yards, while Morelli rushed for 93 yards on 22 carries. Matthews finished with nine receptions for 122 yards.

Fifth-year Drake free safety Andy Green (Atlantic, Iowa) had a game-high 10 tackles, including eight solo hits. Junior cornerback Tim Harvey (Evanston, Ill.) added nine tackles.

Drake will try to end a three-game PFL losing streak when it travels to Butler next Saturday.