The University of San Diego football team kicked off their 2018 season on Saturday and obliterated Western New Mexico 38-9 at Torero Stadium. The Toreros dominated from the start scoring on their first four drives and jumping out 28-0 lead by the 14:07 mark in the second quarter.

Redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Lawrence started the scoring with a 19 yard touchdown run on the first drive of the season and then threw two touchdowns, one to wide receiver Michael Bandy and another to tight end Zach Nelson to extend the Torero lead to 21-0. Running back Emilio Martinez scored on a two yard touchdown run to make it a 28-0 lead. Western New Mexico got on the board right before the end of the first half on a 35 yard field goal to make it 28-3.

Lawrence added another touchdown pass to Bandy in the third to make it a 35-3 game before Western New Mexico scored a touchdown but failed on the two-point conversion making it a 35-9 game. USD added a field goal to extend its lead to 38-9 at the end of the third and neither team scored in the 4th. Lawrence finished the game 25-of-36 for 254 yards, four total touchdowns and one interception. Bandy caught 8 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns and Martinez finished with 113 all purpose yards and one touchdown.

The Toreros out-gained Western New Mexico 421-296 and were in complete control from the start of the game. USD won its 5th straight season opener and will now head north to face UC Davis. The Toreros lost to the Aggies 35-7 last season in Davis. USD is in search of its 5th straight Pioneer Football League championship and comes into this season as overwhelming favorites to do so.