Nov. 16, 2005

Pioneer Football League officials announced today the winners of its divisional post-season honors and the No. 1 ranked USD Toreros were well represented from the PFL North Division. Second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh and sophomore quarterback Josh Johnson earned the PFL North's "Coach of the Year" and "Offensive Player of the Year" honors, respectively, as USD went undefeated (4-0) in division play. Johnson was one of eight Toreros selected to the All-PFL North First Team, while eight other Toreros being recognized as honorable mention.

Harbaugh earns the PFL North's "Coach of the Year" honor after leading the Toreros to a 10-1 mark, including an undefeated run through the PFL North schedule. This Saturday (Nov. 19th) the Toreros will be competing in their first-ever conference championship game and enter that contest with a No. 1 ranking in the Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major poll. They'll take on Morehead State at 4 p.m. at USD's Torero Stadium. Under Harbaugh's two-year direction the Toreros are 17-5 overall, including a 15-1 mark in the last 16 games.

Josh Johnson Offensive Player of Year

Johnson, a 6-3, 180 lb. sophomore quarterback from Oakland, California, leads the league with 2,881 passing yards - more than 800 yards greater than any other PFL quarterback this season. He leads the league in passing efficiency (168.95, 6th in I-AA), total offense (293.27 ypg, 10th in I-AA) and points responsible for (20.18 ppg). This season he broke the Toreros' single-season marks for completions (236) and total offensive yards (3,226). He enters Saturday's game with the following numbers: 236-for-334 for 2,881 yards and 31 touchdowns; he also has added 345 rushing yards and 4 scores on the ground.

Four other Toreros joined Johnson on the First Team Offense - senior WR Adam Hannula (Tacoma, WA), who has hauled in 65 receptions for 907 yards and 9 touchdowns; senior TE Matt Koller (Oak Park, CA), with 17 catches for 199 yards and 3 TDs; sophomore offensive center Jordan Paopao (Oceanside, CA; El Camino HS) and sophomore left tackle Reis Rosenbledt (Burlingame, CA), both who have helped the USD offense to 42.2 points per game and 479.0 yards per game.

A trio of Toreros were named to the First Team Defense - sophomore defensive end Eric Bakhtiari (Burlingame, CA), with 51 tackles (13 for loss and 4 QB sacks); senior captain Philip Bretsch (Fallbrook, CA), with a team-leading 61 tackles and 3 interceptions for 103 return yards; and junior linebacker Kyson Hawkins (Fallbrook, CA), with 60 tackles and 12 tackles for loss in just 8 games played.

Eight Toreros were recognized as honorable mention - senior WR Nick Garton (Dana Point, CA), with 50 receptions for 605 yards and 8 TDs; redshirt running back JT Rogan (Coronado, CA), with 940 yards rushing and 7 TDs, and 35 receptions for 296 yards and 4 TDs; junior back Jon Polk (Compton, CA), with 213 yards rushing & 7 TDs; senior offensive guard Josh Sanders (Miami, FL), with his run blocking and pass protection; senior defensive back Adam Burke (Fallbrook, CA), with 40 tackles and 9 pass breakups; junior defensive back Josh Brisco (Tucson, AZ), with 31 tackles and 4 interceptions; sophomore kicker Hutch Parker (Dana Point, CA), with a PFL best 84 points; and redshirt freshman John Matthews (Littleton, CO), with a 28.1 kickoff return average, and 12 receptions for 331 yards and 4 TDs.