Nov. 14, 2006
(San Diego, CA) - The USD football team (10-0; 7-0 PFL) will find out this Sunday, November 19th, whether their perfect season is good enough to earn them an at-large bid into the NCAA I-AA Playoffs. ESPNews will televise the show between 10-11 a.m. (PT) and announce the 16 teams selected and 8-site bracket. If chosen, the Toreros would become the first non-scholarship program to advance. The two-time PFL champion Toreros, winners of 18 straight games, appear in The Sports Network 2006 I-AA Top 25 Poll for the 7th straight week, moving up one spot to a program-best No. 14. Winners of 26 of their last 27 games, the Toreros stayed at No. 15 in this week's College Sporting News (CSN) Coaches Poll, and check in at No. 12 in Don Hansen's Football Weekly Gazette Top-40 Poll. USD is at 99th in this week's Sagarin Power Ratings for all I-A and I-AA programs, including 11th for I-AA programs.
For the 12th time this season and 18th poll in a row overall, the Toreros claim the No. 1 spot in the Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10. USD's 18-game winning streak is only matched by Ohio State among all I-A and I-AA programs, and its 19-game home winning streak is second only to Appalachian State (W24) among I-AA programs. The Toreros have also won 16 straight PFL contests.
Josh Johnson, USD's outstanding junior quarterback, earned his 6th PFL Player of the Week honor after directing the Toreros to a 56-14 PFL win over Dayton. Johnson had a hand in 7 touchdowns as he threw for four, rushed for two, and was on the receiving end of a 25-yarder from halfback JT Rogan. Johnson completed 26-of-31 passes for 316 yards, rushed for 57 yards on eight carries, and tacked on 25 yards receiving. It also marked his 6th four-touchdown performance this season. The "Payton Watch" candidate continues to rank nationally in five I-AA top-three statistical categories - 1st in total offense (338.10 ypg), 1st in passing efficiency (179.3 rating), 1st in points responsible for (27.0 ppg), 3rd in total passing yards (2,796) and 3rd in passing yards per game (279.60). He is now 21-1 as a starter calling the Torero signals.
As a team the Toreros rank in the Top-10 in 18 different I-AA statistics, including 10 areas where they are either #1 or #2. USD ranks 1st in total offense (517.80 yards per game); 1st in scoring offense (46.0 ppg); 1st in 3rd down efficiency (63.2%); 1st in passing (299.6 ypg); 1st in passing efficiency (180.91 rating); 1st in punt return yardage defense (0.25 yards per return); 2nd in scoring defense (11.1 ppg); 2nd in pass efficiency defense (88.15 rating); tie-2nd in fumbles lost (3); and t-2nd in turnovers lost (7).
Should USD not be selected to the I-AA Playoffs, they would still keep their scheduled game with UC Davis on Nov. 25th, and then represent the Pioneer Football League in the Gridiron Classic on December 2nd at the site of the Northeast Champion, Monmouth (West Long Branch, New Jersey).
