VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — The San Diego Toreros used a dominant ground game and a stifling defensive effort to secure a 43-27 victory over the Valparaiso Beacons on Saturday at Brown Field.

Running backs Adam Criter and Matt Colombo each rushed for over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns apiece, powering a Toreros offense that amassed a significant rushing total. Criter, from Downers Grove, Illinois, ran for 117 yards, while Colombo, from El Segundo, California, added 121 yards on the ground.

Quarterback Dom Nankil efficiently managed the game for San Diego, completing 21 of 29 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown.

The Toreros set the tone early, building a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on a 39-yard field goal by Emiliano Salazar and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Nankil to Colombo. San Diego extended its lead to 13-0 with another Salazar field goal in the second quarter before Valparaiso found its footing.

Beacons quarterback Rowan Keefe, a Park Ridge, Illinois native, engineered two scoring drives before halftime. He connected with Devin Yeats on a 28-yard touchdown pass and found Michael Rumoro for a 3-yard score, cutting San Diego’s lead to 13-14 at the intermission.

San Diego reasserted control immediately after halftime. Criter broke through for a 9-yard touchdown run, capping a methodical drive to push the lead to 20-7. Valparaiso responded in electrifying fashion as Ryan Ricketti returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, bringing the Beacons back within six points.

The Toreros answered with another Colombo touchdown run, this time from 3 yards out, to make it 26-14 after a failed two-point conversion. San Diego’s defense then took over, intercepting Keefe three times. Jake Higgins, Jack Munro and Ruben Lopez each came down with an interception for the Toreros.

A 21-yard field goal by Salazar early in the fourth quarter extended San Diego’s lead to 29-14. Colombo then put the game out of reach with a 36-yard touchdown dash, making the score 36-14.

Valparaiso added a late score on a 34-yard pass from Keefe to Noah Long, but San Diego sealed the victory with a final 2-yard touchdown run by Criter in the closing minutes.

Keefe finished 19-of-30 for 234 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions for the Beacons. Ricketti was a bright spot for Valparaiso, compiling 198 return yards in addition to his kickoff return touchdown.

With the win, San Diego improves to 6-4 on the season. Valparaiso falls to 1-9. The Toreros are scheduled to host Butler next Saturday, while the Beacons are set to host Stetson.