Oct. 26, 2005
GAME #9: The USD Toreros (7-1; 3-0 PFL), coming off an impressive 31-26 home win over Drake last Saturday, will be looking to claim their first outright PFL North Division title this Saturday when they play at Valparaiso (12:00 p.m. CDT). San Diego, winners of 4 straight and 12 of their last 13, can finish a perfect 4-0 in PFL play with a victory Saturday against the Crusaders (2-6; 1-1 PFL). In 2003 the Toreros and Valparaiso were co-PFL North Division champions with identical 3-1 records, however, Valpo advanced to the PFL Championship game due to the fact they beat USD head-to-head. The game will be webcast at www.valpo.edu/athletics.
SERIES RECORD: The Toreros lead the overall series 7-5, while the series is knotted at 3-3 in games played at Brown Field... USD won last year's meeting in San Diego, 49-14... Valpo won the 2003 encounter in Indiana, 41-34 (the Crusaders went on to win the 2003 PFL title with 54-42 win over Morehead State).
HEAD COACH Jim Harbaugh: Harbaugh is his 2nd season after a 7-4 mark in his rookie year. He heads into the Valparaiso game with a 14-5 two-year mark. Prior to being named USD's 11th head coach, he spent two seasons in the NFL as an offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders. He spent 15 years in the NFL with five different teams - Chicago (1987-1993), Indianapolis (1994-97), Baltimore (1998), San Diego (1999-00) and Carolina (2001). A 1987 first round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, Jim played in 117 NFL games with 140 starts. For his career he completed 2,305 of 3,918 passes for 26,288 yards with 129 touchdowns. In 1995 he led Indianapolis to the AFC Championship game; was voted to the Pro Bowl; was named the 1995 Comeback Player of the Year and the AFC Player of the Year; and was runner-up in the NFL MVP voting. A 1986 graduate of Michigan, Jim was a 3-year starter for legendary coach Bo Schembechler. In his senior year in '86, Jim guided Michigan to a No. 2 national ranking while earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors and finishing 3rd in the Heisman race. Jim and his wife, Miah, have three kids - Jay, James, and Grace.
PFL NORTH STANDINGS/SCHEDULE: SAN DIEGO (3-0 PFL; 7-1), Dayton (2-1; 7-1), Valparaiso (1-1; 2-6), Drake (0-2; 3-4), Butler (0-2; 0-8). OCT. 29th SCHEDULE: USD at Valparaiso (12 pm), Butler at Drake (1 pm), Dayton at Davidson (1 pm).
TOREROS REMAIN NO. 1 IN THE SPORTS NETWORK MID-MAJOR POLL: The USD Toreros, with a record of 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the PFL North Division, are the unanimous No. 1 team in The Sports Network Mid-Major Top 10 for the second week in a row after knocking off Drake, 31-26. The Toreros, winners of four straight, picked up all 27 first-place votes and 270 points to land in the top spot. USD will try to clinch the Pioneer League North Division and earn a berth in the league title game when they travel to Valparaiso this Saturday (Oct. 29th, 12 noon CDT). For the first time this season the Toreros also received votes in The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 poll with 10 points. Dayton (7-1) and Morehead State (7-1) held steady at No. 2 and No. 3 after victories. Monmouth (5-2) moves up two spots to No. 4, while Duquesne (4-3) vaulted three positions to No. 5 after a 22-14 win at Marist. Central Connecticut State (5-3) is up three positions to No. 6, followed by Marist (4-3), Drake (3-4), Wagner (5-3) and Jacksonville (3-3). Morehead State wrapped up the PFL South Division with a 3-0 mark and will play in the PFL championship game on Nov. 19th at the site of the PFL North Division winner. The Toreros also kept their No. 1 rating in Don Hansen's Weekly Football Gazette and with Dopke.com. USD ranks 43rd this week in the Sagarin Rating for all I-AA schools, but is listed 18th in the Bradley-Terry Rankings. USD's lone loss is a 3-point game at Princeton (20-17) back on Sept. 24th. The poll includes only I-AA Mid-Major teams from the PFL, MAAC, and NEC.
TOREROS STAY PERFECT IN PFL WITH 31-26 WIN OVER DRAKE: The USD Torero football team (7-1; 3-0 PFL) took one step closer to the PFL title with last Saturday's hard-fought 31-26 win over visiting Drake (3-4; 0-2). "I'm just so proud of this team," said head coach Jim Harbaugh, who got soaked with the traditional water drenching after the big win in addition to being carried off the field by his players. "I told them there were no speeches tonight. They played their hearts out and left everything on the field." The Toreros, which earned the No. 1 ranking for I-AA mid-major schools after last week's convincing 48-24 road win over former No. 1 Dayton, has also been moving up in ratings for all I-AA programs. "If we keep winning we'll continue to move up in the polls," added an elated Harbaugh. "The miracle is still in the house." For the second straight week it was the 1-2 offensive punch of running back JT Rogan (176 yards on 31 carries; 9 receptions for 92 yards) and quarterback Josh Johnson (26-of-32 for 240 yards, 3 TDs; 12 carries for 81 yards). The Torero defense, which had its hands full all night with Drake's outstanding tailback, Scott Phaydavong (242 yards on 27 carries with 2 TDs), came up with some big stops down the stretch to help clinch the victory. The Toreros got on the scoreboard first when Josh Johnson found the endzone from 1-yard out with 9:30 left in the 1st quarter that finished off an 11-play, 75 yard drive. Drake, the preseason PFL coaches pick and last year's PFL champion, closed out the quarter with a 45-yard Ryan Horvath field goal (4:04) and 7-yard TD run by QB Connor Jostes (00:13) to take a 10-7 lead into the 2nd period. Both teams went scoreless over the next 15 minutes with the visiting Bulldogs holding a 10-7 halftime advantage. After intermission, San Diego knotted the score on a 36-yard field goal by Hutch Parker at the 9:18 mark, but Phaydavong, last year's co-PFL Offensive Player of the Year (with USD's Todd Mortensen), busted loosed for a 64-yard TD sprint with 8:23 to go to give Drake a 17-10 advantage. USD was able to string together a 9-play, 73 yard drive with Johnson connecting with WR Nick Garton for a 9-yard TD for a 17-17 score at the 4:37 mark. On Drake's next possession, Torero CB Josh Brisco picked off Jostes' first pass from scrimmage that quickly changed the momentum of the game. San Diego took advantage of the big defensive play and closed out a 26-yard, 8 play scoring drive with Johnson hitting WR Wes Doyle for a 1-yard TD. The scoring play, which put USD ahead 24-17, came on a 4th-and-goal situation after USD failed to run in on three consecutive plays. Early in the 4th period Drake's Ryan Horvath converted on a 39-yard field goal to pull the Bulldogs within 24-20, but once again, the Toreros had an answer as Johnson connected with a wide-open TE Matt Koller for a 1-yard TD with 10:30 to go. With a 31-20 lead, USD saw Drake stage one more impressive drive with Phaydavong capping it off on a 9-yard run with 5:19 to go. With the score 31-26, Drake went for the 2-point conversion but USD's Chase McBride came up with the big stop on the goal line. From there USD was able to move up the field and run out the clock. Besides Rogan and Johnson, USD also got a big lift from the play of the offensive line. Senior WR Adam Hannula added 5 receptions for 76 yards, including a couple of spectacular ones. Defensively it appeared like DE Eric Bakhtiari was everywhere as he finished with a team-best 9 tackles (3 for loss). Hanner Hart added 6 stops, followed by Chase McBride and Scott Cooper, each with 5. The PFL North winner will host the PFL Championship on November 19th against PFL South winner Morehead State (7-1; 3-0 PFL).
TOREROS CONTINUE TO RANK IN I-AA TOP-25 STATISTICS: The Toreros find themselves ranked in 18 Top-25 categories for all I-AA schools... the Torero defense finds itself ranked in ten areas, and in the Top-5 in three categories... the Torero defense is 2nd in scoring defense (12.1 ppg), 4th in 4th-down defense efficiency (18.2%) and pass efficiency defense (88.67 rating), 7th in total defense (253.88 ypg), 9th in 3rd down defense efficiency (29.3%; 29x99), 10th in pass defense (143.0), 15th in turnover margin (+0.88), 19th in rushing defense (110.9 ypg), 20th in kickoff return defense (17.07 yards per return), and 22nd in passes intercepted (10). The USD offense ranks 3rd in fumbles lost (3), 4th in 4th-down efficiency (84.6%; 11x13), 5th in 3rd-down efficiency (52.4%; 57x110), 5th in total offense (471.38 ypg), 9th in turnovers lost (9), 10th in scoring offense (37.38), 11th in pass efficiency (155.98), and 16th in passing offense (275.4). Individually, QB Josh Johnson is 3rd in points responsible for (18.25), 9th in pass efficiency (156.9), and 12th in completions per game (21.75) and total offense (283.4); JT Rogan is 12th in all-purpose yards per game (141.63) and 20th in rushing (106.63 ypg); Josh Brisco is 16th in interceptions (0.50 per game).
HOW USD STACKS UP AGAINST PFL FOES: The Torero team and players also rank among the statistical leaders against their PFL counterparts - as a team USD ranks 1st in rushing defense (110.6), scoring defense (12.1 ppg), total defense (253.6 ypg), pass offense (275.4 ypg), total offense (471.4), first downs (204), opponent 1st downs (111), opponent 3rd-down conversion percentage (29.3), pass defense efficiency (88.7 rating), red zone defense (68.8%), sacks by (16), 4th-down conversions (84.6%0, opponent 4th-down conversions (18.2%), possession time (34:39). USD players that rank among the top-5 in PFL statistics include JT Rogan (2nd in rushing, 106.6 ypg; 2nd in all-purpose running, 141.6; 3rd in scoring TDs, 6.8 ppg); Josh Johnson (1st in passing, 246.8 ypg; 1st in total offense, 283.4 ypg; 3rd in pass efficiency, 156.9), Adam Hannula (1st in receptions per game, 5.25; 3rd in receiving yards, 67.2), Nick Garton (3rd in receptions per game, 4.88; 6th in receiving yards, 58.2; 4th in punt returns, 7.2), Hutch Parker (2nd in scoring, 7.4 ppg; 2nd in field goals, 1.0 made pg; 2nd in PAT kicking percentage, .946; 35x37), Eric Bakhtiari (2nd in tackles for loss, 1.06; 5th in sacks, 0.44 pg), Kyson Hawkins (1st in tackles for loss, 1.25), Philip Bretsch (t-3rd in fumbles forced, 0.25 pg), Chase McBride (t-2nd in passes defended, 1.00 pg), Josh Brisco (t-2nd in interceptions, 0.50 pg), and Eric Stern (1st in QB sacks, 0.50 per game).
8-GAME STATISTICAL LEADERS: Through eight games the Toreros are being led by QB Josh Johnson (174-251 for 1,974 yards and 20 TDs; 283.4 yards of total offense per game), RB JT Rogan (853 yards rushing with 6 TDs; 141.6 all-purpose yards pg; 31 catches for 222 yards), WRs Adam Hannula (42catches for 538 yards and 3 TDs), Nick Garton (39 for 466 yards, 7 TDs) and Wes Doyle (26 catches for 276 yards and 2 TDs), kicker Hutch Parker (8-13 FG; 35-37 PAT; 59 points), punter George Villa (39.6 ave.), LB Kyson Hawkins (60 tackles, 12 for loss), SS Philip Bretsch (43 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 TD return), DE Eric Bakhtiari (34 tackles; 10 for loss; 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), DB Adam Burke (31 tackles, 7 pass breakups), LB Tyler Evans (30 tackles, 1 forced fumble), LB Ronnie Pentz (25 tackles), FS Scott Cooper (25 tackles, 2 int.), DB Chase McBride (21 tackles, 7 pass breakups), & Josh Brisco (20 stops, 4 int. and 3 pass breakups).
Adam Hannula CAREER WATCH: Senior receiver Adam Hannula became USD's all-time receptions leader in the Toreros' 17-14 win over Yale... with 3 catches for 51 yards and 1 TD in the team's win over Menlo, he also became the first Torero receiver to crack 200 career receptions... Adam's current 4-year totals are 216 receptions for 2,921 yards and 28 touchdowns... having already passed Dylan Ching's 189 receptions, Adam has his sights on Ching's other two career marks of 3,111 receiving yards and 32 TD receptions... during his Torero career (39 games) Adam has caught at least 1 pass in every game; caught at least 1 TD in 21 games; and caught 5 or more receptions in 27 games.
TORERO TIDBITS: Over the past 13 games the Toreros have gone 12-1 with the only loss being a hard-fought 20-17 loss at Ivy League member Princeton... the 13-game run is the program's best since the overlap season of 1980-81 campaign when the Toreros strung together a school-best 12 wins... senior WR Nick Garton is also moving up the Torero record charts - with his 4 receptions for 30 yards and 1 TD over Drake, he has moved into 3rd place overall for career receptions (136), receiving yards (2,002), and TDs (24)... redshirt freshman running back JT Rogan, coming off back-to-back games of 180 yards rushing (Dayton) and 176 yards rushing (Drake), is now averaging 106.6 yards a game out of the backfield... following Saturday's game with Valparaiso, USD returns home to Torero Stadium where they are riding a 10-game winning streak - Chapman comes to town on Nov. 5th (7 pm), followed by Marist on Nov. 12th (1 pm).
TRIO OF TOREROS HONORED BY PFL: Three Toreros were honored as PFL Players of the Week following USD's convincing 48-24 road win over previously unbeaten Dayton on Oct. 15th... redshirt freshman running back JT Rogan (Coronado, CA) and sophomore QB Josh Johnson (Oakland, CA) were named co-PFL Offensive Players of the Week, while junior LB Kyson Hawkins (Fallbrook, CA) was tabbed the defensive player of the week... the 1-2 offensive punch of Johnson and Rogan was too much for the UD Flyers... Rogan rushed 30 times for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns; he also added a 3-yard TD reception... Johnson went 21-29 in passing for 257 yards and 3 TDs, and also rushed for 84 yards on 10 carries with an 11-yard TD run... Hawkins led a Toreros defense which held Dayton scoreless in the 2nd half... Hawkins recorded a team-best 12 tackles (7 solo) with 4 being for a loss... the 4 tackles for loss is a PFL single-game best this season.
SCOUTING VALPARAISO: The Crusaders are under the direction of first year coach Stacy Adams who is 2-6 thus far... Valpo is coming off a 52-7 road loss at the hands of the Dayton Flyers... with a PFL record of 1-1, the Crusaders need a victory over San Diego it keep its hopes alive for the PFL North Division title... besides a win over USD, they would also need a home win over Drake on Nov. 5th to share the title with the Toreros... junior RB Jeff Horton leads the PFL in scoring this season having found the endzone 10 times (60 points)... he ranks 3rd in rushing at 100.2 ypg and all-purpose yards (140.0 ypg)... in their PFL win over Butler, Horton rushed a school record 41 times for 212 yards, the second time this season he has rushed for more than 200 yards.
WIN OVER YALE A FIRST FOR USD & PFL: USD's 17-14 come-from-behind win over the Yale Bulldogs on Sept. 17th was the Toreros' first win over an Ivy League opponent in six tries... it also marked the first time a PFL team has beaten an Ivy opponent... in the win USD overcame a 14-0 deficit to record the historic victory... redshirt freshman back JT Rogan hauled in a 2-yard TD pass from QB Josh Johnson with 6:37 to go for the game-winner.
TRI-CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED: Torero players picked three of their senior teammates to represent them as 2005 Team Captains - wide receiver Nick Garton, defensive back Philip Bretsch, and honorary captain Evan Harney. Harney, USD's two-time All-America running back, was lost for the season just prior to the start of football camp after suffering head injuries in a freak accident. Over the past two seasons, the 6-1, 215 lb. running back from Fallbrook, California, rewrote USD's record book for rushing by totaling 2,809 yards and 35 touchdowns on 588 attempts.
2005 PFL CHAMPIONSHIP SITE: The 2005 PFL Championship will be hosted by the PFL North Champion on November 19th. It is the 5th PFL Championship since the beginning of the divisional era in 2000. The PFL North is undefeated in the four previous championships. Morehead State (7-1; 3-0 PFL) will be the PFL South representative for the fourth straight season.
PFL TO RETURN TO SINGLE-DIVISION FORMAT IN 2006: The Pioneer Football League will return to a single-division, round-robin format in 2006, the conference announced on Sept. 7th. The league voted this summer on the move back to a single-division format, which the league used in its first eight seasons. The change resulted from the league's reduction to eight members for the 2006 campaign - Austin Peay leaves the conference at the conclusion of the 2005 season. The final round-robin schedule will provide seven league games annually for all teams with alternating seasons of four home/three road games and three home/four road.
UP NEXT: USD returns to Torero Stadium to host Chapman on Nov. 5th (7 pm).
