Nov. 2, 2005

GAME #10: The USD Toreros (8-1; 4-0 PFL), the 2005 PFL North Division champions, will take on Chapman University in a non-conference tilt on Saturday, November 5th, at 7:00 pm. Jack Murray (play-by-play) and Rick Hill (color analyst) call the action that can be heard via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com. San Diego owns a 10-game Torero Stadium winning streak, and have also won their last five games.

SERIES RECORD: The Toreros lead the overall series 1-0, having won the only previous meeting back in 1981 by the score of 42-27... the win improved USD's record to 9-0 before they closed out the season with a 31-14 loss to Saint Mary's... the win over Chapman was also USD's 12th straight spanning two seasons, still a Torero record.

HEAD COACH Jim Harbaugh: Harbaugh is his 2nd season after a 7-4 mark in his rookie year. With this year's 8-1 record, he heads into the Chapman game with a 15-5 two-year mark (13-1 over last 14 games). 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.

TOREROS RETAIN #1 IN MID-MAJOR POLL: USD (8-1) is the unanimous No. 1 team in The Sports Network Mid-Major Top 10 for the 3rd straight week. The Toreros picked up all 28 first place votes. USD is followed by Dayton (8-1), Duquesne (5-3), Central Connecticut (6-3), Morehead State (7-2), Marist (5-3), Monmouth (5-3), Drake (4-4), Jacksonville (4-3) and Stony Brook (4-4). The mid-major poll includes only I-AA teams from the PFL, MAAC, and NEC.For the 2nd straight week USD received votes for the I-AA Top-25 poll with 25 points, up from 10 the previous week. The Toreros also kept their No. 1 rating in Don Hansen's Weekly Football Gazette and with Dopke.com. USD ranks 50th this week in the Sagarin Rating for all I-AA schools, but is listed 15th in the Bradley-Terry Rankings and 42nd in the I-AA.org rating.

PFL NORTH STANDINGS/SCHEDULE: SAN DIEGO (4-0 PFL; 8-1), Dayton (2-1; 8-1), Drake (1-2; 4-4), Valparaiso (1-2; 2-), Butler (0-3; 0-9). Nov. 5th SCHEDULE: USD vs. Chapman (7 pm), Dayton at Butler (1 pm), Drake at Valparaiso (12 pm). 2005 PFL Championship Note: The USD-Morehead State game on Nov. 19th at USD will kickoff at 4 pm.

TOREROS DOWN VALPO 63-21 - CLAIM PFL TITLE: It was a record-setting day for the USD Toreros (8-1, 4-0 PFL) as they defeated league opponent Valparaiso 63-21 on Saturday afternoon to finish undefeated in league-play and win the conference outright for the first time in the team's history. San Diego brought their `A-game' again as the team scored on its first 8 possessions in taking a 56-7 halftime lead. Quarterback Josh Johnson was superb as he completed 20-26 passes for 345 yards and 7 TDs, all in the 1st half. The 7 passing TDs tied USD's single game record. Senior WR Adam Hannula hauled in 10 passes for 172 yards and 4 scores - he is now tied for the all-time Torero mark for career TD receptions with 32. DB Mark Johnson returned an interception 100 yards for a score to match another USD record, and kicker Hutch Parker converted all 9 of his PAT kicks to break his own Torero record. Running back JT Rogan added 77 yards rushing and 1 TD, in addition to his 3 receptions for 68 yards and 2 scores. "That was the best half of football we played all year," said Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. "It was close to a perfect half, both offensively, defensively and special teams wise. I was really encouraged by that. We're really thrilled about the PFL championship. That has been our team's goal all season."

JOHNSON & JOHNSON HONORED BY PFL: For his explosive first half outing against Valparaiso, Josh Johnson was tabbed the PFL Offensive Player of the Week, his 2nd honor this season. Mark Johson earned the PFL Defensive Player of the Week on the strength of his 100 yard interception return for a TD... he also chipped in with 5 tackles (1 for a loss).

TOREROS CONTINUE TO RANK IN I-AA TOP-25 STATISTICS: The USD Toreros rank in 20 different I-AA statistical categories with the defense leading the way with 11: 3rd in scoring defense (13.1) and pass efficiency defense (91.37 rating), 6th in total defense (261.33), 9th in 3rd-down defense (28.5%), 12th in pass defense (149.7), 14th in kickoff return defense (16.35), 15th in turnover margin (+0.78), 16th in rush defense (111.7) and interceptions (12), 21st in 4th-down defense (33%) and 25th in net punting (34.26). The offense ranks 3rd in scoring offense (40.22), 4th in total offense (473.6), 3rd-down efficiency (51.5%) and 4th-down efficiency (80%), 8th in turnovers lost (8) and passing efficiency (164.31 rating), 12th in fumbles lost (5), 13th in pass offense (289.1) and 24th in passes had int. (6). Individually Josh Johnson ranks 3rd in points responsible for (20.89), 7th in pass efficiency (168.2), 12th in total offense (291.3) and 14th in passing (21.56 completions per game), JT Rogan ranks 12th in all-purpose yards (142.0 ypg) and 19th in rushing (103.3 ypg), Adam Hannula ranks 19th in total receiving yards (710) and 20th in receptions per game (5.78), and Josh Brisco ranks 23rd in interceptions (0.44).

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 (111.4), scoring defense (13.1 ppg), total defense (261.1 ypg), pass offense (284.1 ypg), total offense (473.6), scoring offense (40.2 ppg; tie with Dayton), pass efficiency (164.3 rating), first downs (224), pass defense efficiency (91.4 rating), red zone defense (68.4%), sacks by (21), sacks against (9), 4th-down conversions (84.6%), opponent 4th-down conversions (33.3%), red zone offense (85.4%), possession time (33:25). USD players that rank among the top-5 in PFL statistics include JT Rogan (1st in scoring TDs, 11; 2nd in points, 7.3 ppg; 3rd in rushing, 103.3 ypg and all-purpose running, 142.0); Josh Johnson (1st in passing, 257.7 ypg; 1st in total offense, 291.3 ypg; 1st in pass efficiency, 168.2), Adam Hannula (1st in receptions per game, 5.78; 3rd in receiving yards, 78.9), Nick Garton (3rd in receptions per game, 4.78; 5th in receiving yards, 57.2; 4th in punt returns, 7.5), Hutch Parker (1st in scoring, 7.6 ppg; 2nd in field goals, 0.89 made pg; 2nd in PAT kicking percentage, .95.7; 44x46), Eric Bakhtiari (2nd in tackles for loss, 1.06), Kyson Hawkins (1st in tackles for loss, 1.25), Philip Bretsch (t-4th in fumbles forced, 0.22 pg), Chase McBride (t-3rd in passes defended, 0.89 pg), Josh Brisco (t-3rd in interceptions, 0.44 pg), and Eric Stern (2nd in QB sacks, 0.44 per game).

9-GAME STATISTICAL LEADERS: Through 9 games the Toreros are being led by QB Josh Johnson (194-277 for 2,319 yards and 27 TDs), RB JT Rogan (930 rushing yards, 7 TDs; 34 catches for 290 yards & 4 TDs; 140 all-purpose yards per game), WR Adam Hannula (52 catches for 710 yards and 7 TDs), WR Nick Garton (43 catches for 515 yards and 7 TDs),PK Hutch Parker (68 points; 8x13 FG and 44x46 PAT kicks), P George Villa (40.0 punting average), LB Kyson Hawkins (60 tackles; 12 for loss), SS Philip Bretsch (45 stops, 2 interceptions), DE Eric Bakhtiari (37 tackles; 11 for loss, 3.5 QB sacks), and CB Josh Brisco (4 int).

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 226 receptions for 2,921 yards and 32 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... his next TD reception and 19 yards will give him both records outright... during his Torero career (40 games) Adam has caught at least 1 pass in every game; caught at least 1 TD in 22 games; and caught 5 or more receptions in 28 games.

TORERO TIDBITS: Over the past 14 games the Toreros have gone 13-1 with the only loss being a hard-fought 20-17 loss at Ivy League member Princeton... the 13 wins in a 14-game stretch is a new best mark for Torero football... senior WR Nick Garton is also moving up the Torero record charts - with his 4 receptions for 49 yards at Valparaiso, he is 3rd place overall for career receptions (140), receiving yards (2,051), and TDs (24)... redshirt freshman running back JT Rogan saw his 3-game stretch of 100+ yard rushing games end with his 77 yard output at Valpo... with his 7 TD passes at Valpo, Josh Johnson moved into 3rd for USD's single season mark with 27 - the record is 35 by Eric Rasmussen (2003)... his 194 completions ranks 3rd (234 is record; Todd Mortensen), and his 2,319 passing yards is currently 5th (2,982 yards is record; Rasmussen)... on Saturday USD goes for its 11th straight win at Torero Stadium.

SCOUTING THE CHAPMAN PANTHERS: The Chapman Panthers are an NCAA Division III program... they bring a record of 2-5 to Torero Stadium after Saturday's 23-13 loss at the hands of La Verne... Chapman entered the La Verne game averaging 228 yards rushing per game, but were held to 105 yards on the ground by the Leopards... Chapman's wins have come against Lewis & Clark (53-0) and Whittier (23-20)... head coach Ken Visser (11th year) returns 62 players and 18 starters from last year's 4-5 ball club.

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.

Josh Johnson HONORED BY SAN DIEGO HALL OF CHAMPIONS: USD sophomore QB Josh Johnson (Oakland, CA) was recognized by the San Diego Hall of Champions as one of their Amateur Stars of the Month for September. The sophomore quarterback from Oakland Tech led the Toreros to a 3-1 start in September, including the program's first win over an Ivy League school with a 17-14 come-from-behind victory on Sept. 17 against Yale at Torero Stadium. Johnson was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Week for the Pioneer Football League for his performance against Yale when he was 22-of-34 passing for 198 yards and the game-winning touchdown. He finished the month completing 90-of-143 passes (62.9 percent) for 959 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 11 yards and one touchdown in 39 attempts. USD also beat Azusa Pacific and Southern Oregon before defeating Yale and losing at Princeton, 20-17.

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 PRESEASON PFL COACHES POLL: The Toreros are picked 3rd in the PFL Preseason Coaches Poll - 2004 champion Drake is the top pick for the North Division as they received 5 first place votes - the Bulldogs are followed by Dayton, San Diego, Butler & Valparaiso.

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.

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 will host Marist College on Saturday, Nov. 12th, at 1 p.m. at Torero Stadium. It will be USD's last regular-season contest, and will be followed by the 2005 PFL Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 19th. USD will play host to Morehead State in the title game with kickoff slated for 4:00 p.m. (PST).