Universidad De Las Americas Puebla coach Eric Fisher said he hoped his Aztecas would play like a good Pioneer Football League team against USD.

Say this, UDLAP looked like your typical PFL team. USD pounded its previous five PFL rivals by 34, 49, 31, 39 and 24 points. Likewise, late Saturday afternoon and into the evening, the Toreros laid the hammer to the Aztecas.

Anthony Lawrence tossed three touchdown passes and Jonah Hodges rushed for two scores, all in the first half, as USD defeated UDLAP 49-25 in an exhibition at Torero Stadium.

But the game was tied 7-7 early in the second quarter and later, USD head coach Dale Lindsey was none too pleased.


“I’m (ticked) off,” said Lindsey. “I thought we played like (crap). We weren’t consistent on offense, defense or special teams. I don’t think we prepared well. I think they got shell-shocked by how good UDLAP was.”

The visitors from Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, made it a game for more than one quarter. When UDLAP scored on a 20-yard pass with 44 seconds to play in the first quarter the game was soon tied 7-7, and the orange and green clad visiting fans partied hard.

They slapped thunder sticks. They blew vuvuzelas. They blasted party horns.

“A few times, I thought there were 30,000 people in the stadium,” Lindsey said. “They were beating those sticks, making noise. I thought, ‘By gosh, can we get you to stay and root for us next week?’ I thought it was fabulous.”


Then the visitors fell flat.

The next eight series ended with remarkable regularity, as follows: USD touchdown, Aztecas punt; USD touchdown, Aztecas punt; USD touchdown, Aztecas punt; USD touchdown, Aztecas punt.

By the time the USD band entertained the visitors with Mexican music at halftime, USD led 35-7. Lawrence sat his helmet down at the half, picked up a pen and clipboard, didn’t play another down, finishing 16 of 20 for 171 yards and the three TDs.

Lawrence, who had been sacked once this season, was sacked three times by UDLAP. He got up gingerly once, holding his non-throwing, left shoulder. While saying his shoulder was sore, he added, “I definitely could have played (in the second half).”


The second-half highlight for the Toreros was delivered by 5-foot-8, 205-pound freshman running back Jordan Charles. With USD icing the clock late in the game, Charles scooted off the right side, broke a number of tackles and scored on a 41-yard run for the Toreros’ final score.

When he crossed the goal line, three Aztecas were strewn on the ground, pounding grass.

“I was just trying to get into the end zone,” said Charles.

Because the game was an exhibition, it doesn’t count on the Toreros’ record. USD is 7-1 overall, 6-0 in the PFL.


With Drake beating Jacksonville 31-27 Saturday, USD needs to win just one of its remaining two league games to earn the PFL title and the accompanying Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth.

The Toreros will try to nail down the title next Saturday when they host Stetson.

UPDATES:

What is your opinion?


Chargers Super Bowl victory

Padres World Series crown