San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – The University of San Diego football team
really did save the best for last on Saturday.
Quarterback Keith Williams connected on a 44-yard touchdown pass to Brandon
White on the game’s final play to lift San Diego to a 32-27 win over Valparaiso
and the Pioneer Football League title and its automatic bid to the FCS
playoffs.
San Diego (9-1, 7-1) won the title a day after Jacksonville University
voluntarily withdrew from eligibility for the PFL title and consideration for
the FCS postseason as a result of its internal review of compliance matters
regarding the league’s financial aid rules. The Dolphins also won seven of
their eight league games and beat San Diego in the head-to-head meeting.
In a similar situation last season, San Diego withdrew from PFL title
contention two days before it could have clinched the playoff bid over concerns
that the way it awarded need-based financial aid to football players was
incompatible with PFL rules.
Williams threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns, including two to White. Jonah
Hodges carried the ball 20 times for 168 yards.
A Valparaiso win would have been surprising. The Crusaders are 3-8 overall and
1-6 in the PFL.
