Nov. 29, 2006
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GAME #12: The USD Toreros (10-1), the 2006 Pioneer Football League champions, will take on the Monmouth University Hawks (10-1) this coming Saturday, December 2nd, in the inaugural Gridiron Classic. USD is currently the No. 1 ranked Mid-Major program, while Monmouth is No. 2. It is safe to say that the winner of the contest will finish as the No. 1 mid-major and be presented the 2006 Sports Network Cup in Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 14th at the awards ceremony. Kickoff is slated for 12 noon (ET) at Kessler Field on the campus of Monmouth in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
POLLS & RANKINGS (as of Nov. 20th): The Toreros enter the Gridiron Classic as the 16th-ranked team in the nation, and 17th-ranked team in the CSN Coaches Poll. The 2006 Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Poll: - 1. San Diego (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 Monmouth.
TV-INTERNET: Saturday's game will be televised by College Sports Television (CSTV) with Paul Dottino (play-by-play) and Steven Jackson (color) calling the action. CSTV is available nationally on satellite via DIRECTV (Channel 610) and Dish Network America's Top 120 package (Channel 152). In the San Diego market, CSTV is carried on Time Warner Cable's Digital Sports Tier on Channel 415. The audio is also available via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com with Jack Murray calling the action.
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 28-6. 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 10-1 mark, he has guided USD to 26 wins in its last 28 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 37-27 loss at UC Davis this past weekend, the Toreros saw a couple of streaks come to an end... Their 10-0 record to begin a season is a new school record... Their 18- game winning streak will also go in the Torero record books... USD has still won a remarkable 26 games in its last 28 outings... The Toreros will also enter the 2007 campaign with a school-record 19 straight home wins at Torero Stadium... During their 18-game win streak, USD 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 (26.18), 1st in total offense (341.5 ypg), 1st in passing efficiency (174.8), 2nd in passing yards per game (285.45), 2nd in total passing yards (3,140), and 7th in passing (20.73 completions per game); JT Rogan: 13th in all-purpose yards (148.91 yards per game), and T-19th in scoring (8.18 ppg); Wes Doyle: 13th in receiving yards per game (85.60 ppg), and 19th in total receiving yards (856); Josh Brisco: tie-25th in passes defended (1.09 per game); Pat O'Neill: tie-9th in interceptions (0.45 per game); and Eric Bakhtiari: 14th in tackles for loss (1.50 per game).
TOREROS CONTINUE TO RANK NATIONALLY IN TEAM STATISTICS: As a team the Toreros rank in the Top-10 in 14 different I-AA statistics, including 8 areas where they are either #1 or #2. USD ranks 1st in total offense (509.73 yards per game); 1st in scoring offense (44.27 ppg); 1st in 3rd down efficiency (59.3%); 1st in passing offense (303.60); 1st in passing efficiency (174.41 rating); 1st in turnovers lost (7); tie-2nd in fumbles lost (3); tie-2nd in passes had intercepted (4); tie-5th in tackles for loss allowed (3.73); 5th in scoring defense (13.5 ppg); 5th in pass efficiency defense (97.61 rating); 5th in punt return yardage defense (3.71 ypg); tie-6th in turnover margin (+1.0); and 8th in kickoff returns (22.88 yards per return). Additional top-25 statistics include: 14th in rushing (206.09); 14th in rushing defense (110.3 ypg); 17th in total defense (274.18); 17th in kickoff return yardage defense (17.05); tie-17th in passes intercepted (14); and tie-23rd in pass sacks allowed (1.18).
SCOUTING MONMOUTH: The Hawks are led by Kevin Callahan, the only coach in the Blue & White's history, who recently picked up his third NEC Coach of the Year Award after guiding the team to its fifth NEC championship and third 10-win season... Callahan owns a 85-55 overall record in 14 years at the helm of the Hawks... He was also NEC Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2003... Monmouth went 6-1 in league play with their lone defeat a 36-17 home loss to Stony Brook.... Statistical leaders include RS-Fr. running back David Sinisi (716 yards; 12 TDs), senior QB Brian Boland (183-281 for 2,208 yards and 14 TDs), senior WR Adam San Miguel (70 catches for 866 yards and 6 TDs), senior MLB Anthony Addonizio (75 stops), and senior safety Matt Hill (74 tackles)... As a team the Hawks average 366.0 yards of offense per game (160.2 rush; 205.8 pass) and 25.4 points... The Monmouth defense limits opponents to 260.3 yards of offense (99.7 rush; 160.5 pass) and just 11.4 points.
USD PLAYS UC DAVIS TOUGH IN 37-27 LOSS (11-25-06): The Toreros gave the UC Davis Aggies, a scholarship team from the Great West Football Conference, all they could handle before falling 37-27 in Davis, California last weekend... USD jumped out to a 18-13 halftime lead, and with 10 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter were up 25-19 after Josh Johnson connected with WR John Matthews for a 61-yard TD strike... UC Davis answered with back-to-back scores to go up 31-25, but on their second PAT kick attempt, the Toreros blocked it and Patrick O'Neill returned it for a two-point score to pull the Toreros within 31-27 with 3:55 to go... UCD extened their lead to 10 points with the only score of the 4th quarter with 6:19 to go as Chris Carter scored on a 12-yard run... USD fought to the end and even had the ball on the UCD 2-yard line in the closing seconds, but were unable to cash in on a final score... Josh Johnson finished with 344 yards on 19-39 passing and 2 scores (5, 61 yards), and added 31 yards rushing and 1 TD... His main targets were John Matthews (4 catches for 126 yards, 1 TD) and Wes Doyle (4 catches for 109 yards)... Hutch Parker converted both of his field goal attempts (35 & 37 yards)... Defensively the Toreros were paced by LB Kyson Hawkins (10 tackles) and Josh Brisco (9 tackles; 8 solo).
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. PFL Standings (as of 11-28-06): San Diego (7-0; 10-1), 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 one game left; all other PFL teams are done for the season.
