USD Magazine Fall 2016

TORERO  ATHLETICS

Well-respected by teammates for the way he plays the game, quarterback Anthony Lawrence wants to make the most of every opportunity at USD.

Quarterback Anthony Lawrence i s dedi cated to the game [ p o w e r f u l ] HE’S GOT TRUE INSTINCT

by Don Norcross

W

ith 8 minutes, 12 sec- onds remaining in the third quarter of USD’s

2015 football season opener against San Diego State, Toreros quarterback Anthony Lawrence jogged onto the Qualcomm Stadium field for the first play of his college career. The Toreros trailed the Aztecs 27-0. In USD’s first 11 possessions, the Toreros’ offense managed to get into San Diego State territory just twice. Following five turn- overs, six punts and just three first downs, head coach Dale Lindsey looked to his bench to change things up. So before an announced crowd of 48,785, with his offense struggling, Lawrence, anaveraged- sized, then redshirt first-year out of El Cajon’s Grossmont High, walked into the huddle for injured starter Trey Wheeler and … “He was smiling,” recalls USD wide receiver Justin Priest. “You knew he wouldn’t wet his pants.” In his first series, Lawrence proceeded to lead USD to a field goal, its lone score in a 37-3 defeat. The next week, Wheeler’s shoulder injury prevented him from playing against Western New Mexico. Head coach Dale Lindsey gave the ball to Lawrence, who proceeded to throw for 254 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-21 victory. Lawrence would be the starter for the rest of the season. He guided the Toreros to a 9-2 record and a share of the Pioneer

BROCK SCOTT

Football League title, completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,392 yards and 23 touchdowns. He suffered only six interceptions. By a vote of his teammates, the young man who began the sea- son on the bench was selected

USD’s most valuable player. “I think the kids made a good choice,” says Lindsey. “In the locker room, it’s hard to fool your buddies.” When Lawrence reported to USD in August 2014 he was one

of four new quarterbacks. At a fraction over 6 feet tall and weigh- ing 190 pounds, he was the small- est of the new QBs. He did not possess the strongest arm. “The one deciding factor he had that they didn’t is that

12

USD MAGAZINE