JoJo Binda Jr. scored four touchdowns and the University of San Diego defense forced three key turnovers to give the Toreros their 37th straight conference win with a 47-28 victory over Jacksonville Saturday.
With the win, the Toreros (9-2, 8-0 PFL), became the first team to post four consecutive perfect seasons in Pioneer Football League history.
San Diego also claimed its sixth straight PFL championship.
The team rushed for 225 yards, led by Binda Jr.’s 147. His four touchdowns also tied a school record. He became the fifth Torero to score four rushing touchdowns and the first since 2016.
The win also vaulted the PFL champions into sole possession of the second-longest conference winning streak in FCS history at 37 games.
USD will enter 2020 looking to match the longest, a 39-game streak by Duquesne that stretched from 1999 to 2006.
The Toreros led for the entire game, but the Dolphins (3-9, 1-7 PFL) twice drew close. After a Brandon Eickert field goal made it 33-28 with 10:38 remaining in the game and Jacksonville had the ball, Torero Myles Wilson forced a fumble, recovered by Jacob Bergstrom.
San Diego converted the turnover as Binda Jr. rushed for 29 yards in a five-play, 37-yard drive. Reid Sinnett scored the touchdown that made it 40-28 with 4:28 left.
Sinnett also went 14-of-21 passing with 266 yards.
The San Diego defense finished with four takeaways, including an interception by David Tolbert, his team-leading sixth of the season.
The Toreros jumped out to a 17-point advantage early in the game. Binda Jr. scored the first touchdown on the Toreros’ opening drive, while Sinnett rushed in from 20 yards out to make it 17-0 with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter.
The Toreros outgained the Dolphins, 491-416. With 225 yards on the ground, they logged their third straight game above the 200-yard threshold.
The Toreros learn their postseason fate at 9:30 a.m. Sunday as picks will be announced on the FCS Playoffs Selection Show, airing on ESPNU.
– Staff reports
