Oct. 14, 2006
Final Stats
(San Diego, CA) - The 21st-ranked USD Toreros (6-0; 3-0 PFL) turned in a dominating performance tonight before 4,114 fans with a 68-7 victory over Valparaiso (2-5; 1-3) at the newly named Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium. The 68 points scored ranks second all-time in Torero history, falling one point shy of USD's 69-point effort back in 1970 in the team's 69-0 win over Cal Tech. Junior quarterback Josh Johnson completed 18-of-23 passes for 286 yards and 4 touchdowns, and added a 3-yard rushing score, before being pulled late in the 3rd quarter. Sophomore running back JT Rogan rushed for 81 yards and a score, and got USD off to a fast start by taking the opening kickoff 93 yards for a 7-0 lead. The Torero defense turned in another dominating performance, limiting the Crusaders to 220 yards of offense.
"This was a special, dominating performance by our football team tonight," stated head coach Jim Harbaugh. "We had great performances in every aspect of the game - special teams, offense and defense all dominated. JT ran like a man on a mission tonight, and Josh had another strong performance. He was just feeling it tonight."
Following Rogan's game opening kickoff return, it was the Josh Johnson show. He would end the first quarter 9-for-9 for 112 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Toreros took a commanding 28-0 lead. His first two touchdown passes went to senior captain Jon Polk for 5 and 21 yards, and he closed out the quarter with a 9-yard TD strike to WR Ben Hannula. Valpo's John Popper took a 5-yard pass from QB Ryan Doerffler for their lone score of the game with 9:07 left in the 2nd quarter. JT Rogan closed out the quarter with a 22-yard TD pass from Johnson with 5:24 left, and a 27-yard TD run with :49 seconds left.
In the second half the Toreros would add four rushing touchdowns beginning with Brendan Feliczak's 14-yarder with 12:18 left in the third period. Following Johnson's 3-yarder with 6:25 left in the 3rd, the Toreros closed out the game with touchdown scores from David Allen (5 yards) and Labroi Walton (12 yards).
USD's 569 yards of offense (240 rushing, 329 passing) was a season high for the Toreros. USD's balanced attack included five different players with rushing scores. Besides Rogan, Brendan Feliczak turned in a solid game with 92 yards rushing on 10 carries including his 14-yard TD score. Ten different receivers hauled in receptions with TE Chris Ramsey (8 for 90 yards) and John Matthews (2 for 73 yards) leading the way. Rogan was named the Hughes Insurance Player of the Game.
USD's balanced defensive attack was paced by Vincent Atofau (7 tackles), Ronnie Pentz (6 stops), and Josh Brisco (6 tackles). Brisco blanketed Valpo's Steve Ogden all night with Odgen catching just 3 balls for 46 yards. USD now heads to Des Moines, Iowa for next week's PFL showdown with the Drake Bulldogs (3-0 PFL; 6-1). The Bulldogs defeated Butler today, 29-0, and have won six straight games since their 48-7 season-opening loss to Northern Iowa.
