Nov. 21, 2006
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GAME #11: Coming off a bye week, and finding out that they did not get selected to the Division I Football Championship, the 10-0 Toreros now take their 18-game winning streak to face the UC Davis Aggies (5-5) this Saturday, Nov. 25th, in a 1:05 p.m. contest at Toomey Field (7,905).
TOREROS AT #16 IN NATIONAL POLLS: For the 8th straight week the Toreros find themselves ranked in the Sports Network's I-AA College Top 25 Football Poll, where they find themselves this week at No. 16. Coming off its 56-14 win over Dayton two weeks ago, USD retains its No. 1 ranking for the 12th straight week, and 18th straight poll, in the 2006 Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Poll (as of 11-20-06) - 1. USD (24), 2. Monmouth, 3. Drake, 4. Central Connecticut, 5. Albany, 6. Duquesne, 7. Robert Morris, 8. Davidson, 9. Stony Brook, 10. Jacksonville (1st place votes).
SERIES RECORD: This is the first meeting between USD and UC Davis.
RADIO-INTERNET: Saturday's game will air live on www.usdtoreros.com via the Toreros All-Access package, and air delayed on CASH 1700 AM beginning at approximately 4:15 p.m. (PT). Jack Murray (play-by-play) and Ted Tollner (color commentator) will call the action for the Toreros.
TOREROS WELL REPRESENTED ON ALL-PFL TEAMS: The Pioneer Football League officials announced today the winners of its postseason honors and the All-PFL first and second teams. All selections were made by the league's coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players. USD had a piece of each of the league's four year-end awards. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh was co-Coach of the Year with Davidson's Tripp Merritt; junior QB Josh Johnson was the unanimous Offensive Player of the Year selection; junior DE Eric Bakhtiari shared the Defensive Player of the Year with Drake's James Adams; and DB Gabe Derricks was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. A total of 16 Toreros were recognized on the PFL teams. Joining Johnson and Bakhtiari on the First Team were running back JT Rogan, TE Chris Ramsey, center Jordan Paopao, guard Gabe DeAnda, linebacker Kyson Hawkins, DB Josh Brisco, and safety Chase McBride. Toreros recognized on the PFL 2nd Team include WR Wes Doyle, WR Ben Hannula, fullback Jon Polk, offensive tackle Spencer Hollison, defensive tackle Eric Stern and safety Patrick O'Neill. Defensive lineman Chris Gianelli and linebacker Tyler Evans were both named honorable mention.
HEAD COACH Jim Harbaugh: Harbaugh is his 3rd season with a career record of 28-5. Last season he guided the Toreros to a program-best 11-1 record, the PFL North Division title, the PFL Championship, and to the Sports Network Cup crown as the No. 1 ranked I-AA Mid-Major program. He is a two-time PFL Coach of the Year, in addition to being a two-time candidate for the I-AA Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. With this season's 10-0 mark, he has guided USD to a remarkable 18 straight victories overall, and to 26 wins in its last 27 contests. The Toreros reached a program-best No. 14 national ranking this season for all I-AA schools in the Sports Network Top 25. 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 177 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, who resides in Coronado, is the father of three kids - Jay, James, and Grace.
TOREROS TIDBITS: With their 10-0 start, the USD Toreros have now won 18 straight games, and 26 of its last 27 contests... During this amazing run USD's only loss is last year's 3-point defeat at Princeton (20-17) on Sept. 24th, 2005... USD's 18-game winning streak is tops among all I-AA programs... USD's current 19-game home winning streak ranks 2nd only to 3ppalachian State (W24)... During this 18-game win streak, USD has outscored its opponents 856 to 276, an average of 47.6 ppg to 15.3 ppg (+32.3 scoring margin)...Torero players that rank in the Top-25 among I-AA stats include Josh Johnson: 1st in points responsible for (27.0), 1st in total offense (338.10 ypg), 1st in passing efficiency (179.3), 3rd in passing yards per game (279.6), 5th in total passing yards (2,796), and 6th in passing (20.9 completions per game); JT Rogan: 13th in all-purpose yards (148.70 yards per game), and 4th in scoring (9.0ppg); Wes Doyle: 17th in receiving yards per game (83.0 ppg); Josh Brisco: tie-9th in passes defended (1.20 per game); Pat O'Neill: 9th in interceptions (0.5 per game) and tie-21st in passes defended (1.10 per game); and Eric Bakhtiari: tie-8th in tackles for loss (1.65 per game).
TOREROS CONTINUE TO RANK NATIONALLY IN TEAM STATISTICS: As a team the Toreros rank in the Top-10 in 15 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 offense (299.6); 1st in passing efficiency (180.91 rating); 1st in turnovers lost (7); 1st in scoring defense (11.1 ppg); 1st in punt return yardage defense (0.25 ypg); 2nd in pass efficiency defense (88.15 rating); 2nd in fumbles lost (3); 3rd in passes had intercepted (4); 4th in tackles for loss allowed (3.70); 4th in turnover margin (+1.10); 5th in kickoff returns (24.61 yards per return); 7th in total defense (249.20 ypg); and 10th in passing defense (145.50).
SCOUTING UC DAVIS: The Aggies are coming off a 30-16 home victory over Sacramento State and own a season mark of 5-5... the win kept their hopes alive for a 37th consecutive winning season... Against Sac State the Aggies scored two 4th quarter TDs to pull away to victory... On the season UC Davis is led by RB Marcus Nolan (548 yards; 6 TDs), QB Jon Grant (218-357 for 2,420 yards and 16 TDs), WR Rony Kays (56 catches for 728 yards and 7 TDs), WR Chris Carter (52 catches for 680 yards and 4 TDs), FS Jonahtan Barsi (56 tackles; 6 interceptions with 1 TD return), LB Chris Buck (53 stops) and CB Nevan Bergan (51 tackles)... UCD, under the direction of 14th-year head coach Bob Biggs, plays in the Great West Football Conference... They own a 45-0 win over Montana State which advanced to the NCAA Playoffs.
UP NEXT FOR TOREROS IS THE GRIDIRON CLASSIC ON DECEMBER 2ND: Following Saturday's home game with UC Davis, the Toreros will head to West Long Branch, New Jersey, to face the Monmouth Hawks (10-1), the 2006 Northeast Conference Champions, in the first annual Gridiron Classic (PFL champion vs. NEC champion)... The Gridiron Classic is a post-season exempted event... The Hawks were hoping to be the first team from the NEC to be selected to play in the I-AA playoffs after going 10-1 on the season and capturing their fifth league championship... The Hawks have a total of 18 senior starters that will be playing their last game at Kessler. Monmouth secured their first out-right NEC Championship with a 19-0 blanking of Albany on Nov. 11...The game will kickoff at 12:00 noon (ET) at Kessler Field.
TOREROS DOWN DAYTON FLYERS, 56-14 (11-11-06): The USD Toreros (10-0) kept their perfect season alive with a convincing 56-14 home victory over the Dayton Flyers before a school-record 7,323 fans at Torero Stadium. The 10-0 start to the season is a new school record, and USD's final 7-0 PFL record marks the second straight season the Toreros were undefeated in league play. Junior QB Josh Johnson, USD's Payton Watch candidate, turned in a brilliant game as he passed for 4 scores, ran in two touchdowns and even caught a TD pass as USD totaled 584 yards of offense. Johnson completed his first nine passes of the game, and finished 26-of-31 for 316 yards with TD strikes of 4, 15, 19 and 46 yards. Once again the Torero defense was ready to play as they limited UD to just 87 yards in the first half as the Toreros took a 34-0 score into the locker room. Johnson set the tone for the game with two rushing scores of 3 and 15 yards in the first quarter for a quick 14-0 lead. It was the Josh Johnson aerial show in the 2nd quarter as he connected on TD strikes to Wes Doyle (4 yards), JT Rogan (15 yards) and John Matthews (19 yards) for the commanding 34-0 lead. The Toreros caught the Flyers off guard in the third period as half back JT Rogan took a handoff from Johnson, ran right, then turned back and passed to a wide open Johnson for a 25-yard score and 41-0 lead. For the game the Torero defense held the Flyers to just 201 yards of total offense (79 rushing). Junior DE Eric Bakhtiari led the way with 7 tackles, including a QB sack for -8 yards. Chase McBride followed with 5 stops and a sack, and LB HannerHart chipped in with 5 tackles. Offensively Johnson passed for 316 yards; rushed for 57 yards and 2 scores; and hauled in a 25-yard TD pass from Rogan. JT Rogan also turned in a solid game as he rushed for 74 yards; and caught a personal-best 9 balls for 119 yards and 1 score. Brendan Feliczak turned in a solid ground game with 86 yards rushing on 12 carries, including his 10-yard TD run. WR Wes Doyle caught 6 balls for 64 yards and a score, and John Matthews hauled in 4 balls for 82 yards and 2 scores.
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE: The 2006 season marks the 14th year for the Pioneer Football League, which returns to a non-divisional format for the first time since the 2000 season. After five seasons playing a North-South divisional format, the league saw its numbers reduced to eight after the 2005 season (Austin Peay leaving the conference to return to scholarship football) and those remaining members voted to adopt a full-round robin scheduling format for 2006. Additionally, the PFL champion will participate in the Gridiron Classic versus the champion of the Northeast Conference. The NEC champion will host the inaugural Gridiron Classic on December 2nd. PFL Standings (as of 11-20-06): San Diego (7-0; 10-0), Drake (6-1; 9-2), Davidson (5-2; 6-4), Jacksonville (4-3; 4-6), Butler (2-5; 3-8), Morehead State (2-5; 2-9), Dayton (1-6; 4-6), and Valparaiso (1-6; 3-8). USD has two games left; all other PFL teams are done for the season.
