Stetson had hoped to send its group of 15 seniors out on a high notes Saturday at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, but visiting San Diego had other ideas.
 
The Toreros held Stetson to minus-8 yards of total offense in the first half, building a 27-0 lead in route to a 41-16 victory over the Hatters in the last game of the year for both teams.
 
With its seventh consecutive win, San Diego finished the season with a 7-4 record and tied Davidson for the Pioneer Football League title with a 7-1 mark in league play. Stetson finished its first year under head coach Brian Young with a 3-7 overall record, including a 2-6 mark in the PFL.
 
The Hatters went into the game without defensive line stalwarts Fermon Reid, Bryson Richards, Jack Benzjia and Edward Hernandez and with Nolan DeFranco coming off an injury of his own, the Toreros took advantage. USD quarterback Mason Randall completed 17-of-24 passes in the first half, throwing for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
 
While the Toreros were moving the ball down the field with ease, the Hatters were unable to move the ball at all. Quarterback Alex Piccirilli, playing without Jalen Leary in the backfield, was sacked three times and completed just one of five pass attempts as Stetson went to the locker room at halftime with just one first down.
 
It was not until after San Diego put together a 94-yard touchdown drive early in the third quarter that Stetson finally got its offense moving. Graduate transfer Justin Agner came on in relief of Piccirilli put together an 11-play scoring drive that was highlighted by a 35-yard pass completion to Nazeviah Burris and a 16-yard scramble for a first and goal. Jordan Younge-Humphrey finished the drive with a five-yard TD run.
 
San Diego got a short field after a Stetson punt was deflected, and needed just eight plays to answer the Stetson score, but the Hatters kept fighting.
 
Agner hit consecutive big passes – for 31 yards to Jalen Mason and 33 yards to Deven Thompson to put the Hatters inside the USD one. After three unsuccessful plays, Young-Humphrey crashed into the end zone from two yards out for his second touchdown of the day.
 
The Hatters got a career-long 39-yard field goal from Gillis later in the quarter to account for the final points in the game.
 
Agner ended up throwing for 195 yards, completing 12-of-22 passes with one interception in the game. Quinton Lane was on the receiving end of four of those passes, including a 50-yard play on the opening possession of the second half, a possession that ended in the one interception.
 
The Hatters ended up under water rushing the ball, with eight sacks by the San Diego defense accounting for 58 yards in losses. Overall, the Toreros had 13 tackles for losses of 71 yards.
 
Randall finished with 337 passing yards with the three touchdown passes to three different receivers. Emilio Martinez ran for 132 yards on 17 carries for USD, including a 36-yard touchdown run.
 
Defensively, Davion Maxwell led Stetson with 10 tackles, including two for loss. Majeste' Hansberry had nine tackles and forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate Tallin Coates.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.