San Diego secures PFL's first playoff win

(STATS) -- That San Diego running back Jonah Hodges finished with more rushing yards and touchdowns than Cal Poly's No. 1 rushing offense in the FCS meant the Pioneer Football League had a breakthrough victory in the FCS playoffs Saturday night. San Diego avenged a 22-point early season loss to Cal Poly with a surprising 35-21 win in the first round in San Luis Obispo -- the first ever in the playoffs by a team from the non-scholarship PFL. The upstart Toreros (10-1), who have won nine straight games since falling 38-16 to the Mustangs from the Big Sky Conference, next play at No. 1 seed and five-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State (10-1), in the second round next Saturday. Hodges, a fifth-year senior, finished with 35 carries for 171 yards and three touchdowns.