DES MOINES, Iowa – An announced crowd of 5,318 turned out yesterday for Drake's homecoming. Many left early.

San Diego's Phil Morelli ran for two touchdowns and caught a third as the Toreros ran away from Drake 43-17. USD (4-0, 2-0 Pioneer League) has outscored its opponents 164-49.

“We thought this was the best opponent we'd played, and I challenged them to play the best game they've played,” Toreros coach Ron Caragher said. “Everything just clicked.”

The Toreros dominated the first quarter, outgaining Drake 156-18, and holding a 10-1 advantage in first downs. USD scored touchdowns on its first three possessions, taking much of the verve out of the crowd.

Drake coach Chris Creighton called timeout after the Toreros' second touchdown, and held a team meeting on the sideline.

“The message was: Are you kidding me?” Creighton said. “I had a feeling that we were playing the ghost of San Diego, and I wanted to start over. Obviously it didn't do much good.”

Kyle Negrete made an interception on the Drake's first offensive play of the game, and five plays later John Matthews caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Sebastian Trujillo. The pair hooked up again on a 39-yard score midway through the second quarter. That score put USD ahead 28-0, and was a school-record 37th career score for Matthews.

“It means a lot. It exemplifies that I've had a lot of great people around me,” said Matthews, who surpassed the mark held by Adam Hannula. “It's an honor, but it's not the end goal for this year.”

As explosive as San Diego was in the first half, it was just as methodical in the third quarter. After a Drake (2-2) field goal cut the lead to 28-10, the Toreros covered 89 yards in 20 plays – the last a 3-yard touchdown run by Morelli – in 10:34.

“A 17-play drive is the biggest I've ever been around,” Caragher said.

Morelli finished with 93 yards rushing, and did not play in the fourth quarter. Trujillo was 23-of-28 for 212 yards and three touchdowns, while Matthews had nine catches for 122 yards.

San Diego has won four straight and seven of the past eight against Drake. The past three have been routs – the Toreros have won 139-36 – after the previous five had been decided by seven or fewer points.

Pilkington injured

Safety Derek Pilkington laid in the end zone for about 10 minutes before leaving the field on a cart with his neck immobilized. USD head trainer Stephane Rochet speculated that Pilkington had suffered a concussion.

“I saw his hands move, saw his feet move, but he looked like he was out of it,” Caragher said.