Oct. 31, 2007
USD vs. Davidson notes 
GAME NINE: The USD Torero football team (7-1; 4-1 pfl), under the direction of first year head coach Ron Caragher, will look to get back to their winning ways this Saturday, Nov. 3rd, when they host the Davidson Wildcats at 2:00 p.m. at Torero Stadium. The radio broadcast will air live on 1700 AM (Jack Cronin & Ted Tollner), and via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com, with pre-game beginning at 1:45 pm.
SERIES RECORD: The Toreros lead the series with Davidson, 3-1... The Toreros have won the last three meetings including last year's 50-21 win at Davidson. USD is 1-1 against the Wildcats in games played at Torero Stadium.
TOREROS DROP TO NO. 2 SPOT IN SPORTS NETWORK MID-MAJOR POLL: Following last Saturday's 35-16 loss to No. 2 Dayton, the Toreros dropped to No. 2 while the Flyers took over the top spot in this week's The Sports Network FCS Top-10 Mid-Major poll. Following Dayton and USD in the top-10 is Albany (5-3), Drake (6-3), Iona (6-2), Morehead State (6-2), Central Conn. State (5-3), Davidson (5-3), Duquesne (5-3) and Wagner (5-3).
PFL STANDINGS (as of Oct. 30th)/UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Dayton (4-1, 8-1), San Diego (4-1, 8-1), Morehead State (4-1, 6-2), Drake (3-2, 6-3), Davidson (3-2, 5-3), Valparaiso (1-4, 4-5), Jacksonville (1-4, 2-6), Butler (0-5, 4-5). Other PFL Games for Nov. 3rd: Valparaiso at Jacksonville (12 noon), Butler at Dayton (1 pm), Drake at Morehead State (1 pm).
14 SENIORS PLAYING LAST REGULAR-SEASON HOME GAME: USD will pay tribute to fourteen seniors in a pre-game tribute Saturday as they suit up for their final regular-season final... The fourteen players include DB Taber LeMarr (Phoenix, AZ), DB Mark Johnson (Santa Margarita, CA), OL Gabe DeAnda (Lakewood, CO), OL Jordan Paopao (Oceanside, CA), PK Hutch Parker (Dana Point, CA), RB Mark Cianciulli (Corona del Mar, CA), OL Deene Kabiling (San Diego, CA), QB Josh Johnson (Oakand, CA), LB Tyler Evans (Englewood, CO), DE Eric Bakhtiari (Burlingame, CA), OL Jason McFarland (San Jose, CA), LB Ronnie Pentz (Lake Forest, CA), TE Chris Ramsey (Calexico, CA) and WR Wes Doyle (Phoenix, AZ).
TOREROS AMONG NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS: As a team the USD Toreros rank in fourteen top-25 team statistical categories for NCAA FCS statistics... USD is #1 in three areas - scoring (45.38 ppg), kickoff returns (29.23 yards per return) and passed had intercepted (just 2)... They also are 2nd in passing efficiency (198.81 rating), t-3rd in turnovers lost (8), 4th in total offense (479.25), t-4th in pass sacks (3.25 per game), 7th in offensive 3rd down efficiency (46.3%), t-7th in tackles-for-loss allowed (4.25), 9th in passing offense (291.4 yards per game), t-10th in turnover margin (+1.38), t-17th in sacks allowed (1.13), t-19th in offensive 4th down efficiency (62.5%), t-23rd in turnovers gained (19). Five USD Toreros currently rank individually in a total of 16 different statistics. Senior QB Josh Johnson is 1st in total offense (370.6), 1st in points responsible for (27.43), 2nd in pass efficiency (200.9 rating), 7th in passing yards per game (297.43), 10th in total passing yards (2,082 in 7 games), and 14th in passing (20.29 completions per game); senior DE Eric Bakhtiari is 1st in QB sacks (1.94; 15.5 total), t-3rd in tackles for loss (2.25), and t-10th in forced fumbles (0.38); senior WR Wes Doyle is t-8th in receptions per game (7.13), 17th in total receiving yards (636), and 18th in receiving yards per game (87.38), junior RB JT Rogan is 1st in kickoff returns (38.92 yards per return), 11th in all-purpose running (178.88), and t-16th in scoring (9.0 ppg); and junior safety Patrick O'Neill is t-16th in interceptions (0.50).
USD FOOTBALL EQUALS A WINNING TRADITION: Since the middle of the 2004 season the USD Toreros have strung together some impressive winning streaks... Beginning with their 49-14 home win over Valparaiso back on October 16, 2004, USD has now won 34 of their last 37 games (.918 winning percentage)... Between the 2005-2006 campaigns USD strung together a school record 18-game winning streak... With their home win over Jacksonville two weeks ago, the Toreros have now won 23 straight at Torero Stadium... They recently saw their streak for PFL regular-season wins end at 18.
TOREROS AMONG PFL ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS: The Toreros are well represented on the lists for PFL active career leaders... Josh Johnson ranks 1st in passing yards (8,793), 1st in total offense (10,443) and 4th in rushing yards (1,650); JT Rogan ranks 1st in touchdowns (40), 2nd in scoring (242), 3rd in rushing yards (2,638), 2nd in all-purpose yardage (4,415), and 3rd in kickoff returns (911 yards); Wes Doyle ranks 1st in receiving yards (2,166) and 5th in touchdowns (24); Hutch Parker ranks 1st in scoring (269); Eric Bakhtiari ranks 1st in total sacks (30.5), 1st in tackles for loss (55.5), and 4th in total tackles (213); John Matthews ranks 4th in receiving yards (1,701); Patrick O'Neill ranks 4th in interceptions (9); Kenny Stivers ranks 4th in punt returns (261); Tyler Evans ranks 5th in total tackles (205); and Mark Cianciulli ranks 5th in kickoff returns (798). Among PFL milestone markers, Josh Johnson ranks first with 13 games of 300+ passing yards, JT Rogan ranks 2nd with 12 games of 100-yards rushing, Wes Doyle ranks 3rd with 5 games of 100-yards receiving, and John Matthews ranks 4th with 4 games of 100-yards receiving.
JOHNSON EARNS 4TH PFL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR: Torero senior QB Josh Johnson (Oakland, CA) earned his 4th Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week honor, and 13th career award, after he led USD to a convincing 62-23 PFL win over Jacksonville (Oct. 20th). Johnson needed just one half to post this week's impressive numbers. He completed 17-of-22 passes for 249 yards and five touchdowns. He also added seven carries for 55 yards and one touchdown. He finished with 304 yards of total offense and was responsible for six of USD's eight first half touchdowns. For the season Johnson has completed 124-of-165 passes (75.2%) for 1,852 yards and 28 touchdowns without an interception. Additionally, he has rushed for 445 yards and 2 scores. He ranks 1st in the FCS for total offense (382.8 yards per game), passing efficiency (225.44 rating) and points responsible for (30 points per game). For his career he has thrown 98 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. The 2007 Payton Watch Award candidate has also accepted an invitation to play in the 2008 East-West Shrine Game on January 18th in Houston, Texas. Stated coach Ron Caragher on Johnson's invitation, "We are excited that our senior quarterback Josh Johnson will be given the opportunity to play in the East-West Shrine game. Playing in a post-season all-star game of this magnitude will give him an additional opportunity to showcase his many talents and skills."
Eric Bakhtiari ADDED TO BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD WATCH LIST: Torero senior DE Eric Bakhtiari (Burlingame, CA) has been added to the most recent Buck Buchanan Award Watch List by The Sports Network... He is one of 16 FCS players being considered as the top defensive player... Following USD's 59-19 win over Drake, Eric earned two national player of the week honors by The Sports Network and College Sporting News... Against the Bulldogs Bakhtiari set USD school records with 5 pass sacks and 3 forced fumbles, and finished with 10 tackles (8 solo), 1 fumble recovery, 2 QB hurries and 1 pass breakup... One of his QB hurries set up Ben Hannula's 99-yard interception return... Through 7 games this season Bakhtiari ranks 1st in pass sacks (1.93 per game, 13.5 total), 2nd in tackles for loss (2.29 per game) and tied for 8th in forced fumbles (0.43 per game).
TOREROS HONORED AS PFL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: The Jacksonville win marked the seventh straight game that USD had at least one player recognized as a PFL player of the week... QB Josh Johnson earned his 4th award this season in six games, and his PFL record 13th career honor overall... Eric Bakhtiari (defense) and Hutch Parker (special teams) were selected after USD's 59-19 win over Drake... JT Rogan was co-PFL offensive player of the week (Oct. 7) after USD's 41-27 road win over Valparaiso in which he rushed for 4 touchdowns... Johnson earned his 3rd offensive player of the week (Sept. 30) award this season following the team's 56-9 road win over Butler; Johnson passed for 6 touchdowns and totaled 405 yards of passing... Johnson and Rogan were players of the week (Sept. 16) folowing the team's 49-13 win over Northern Colorado; Johnson passed for 6 touchdowns and rushed for 147yards, and Rogan returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD to open the second half... Johnson's first award (Sept. 9) came after the Marist win as he passed for 403 yards and 4 TDs.... Junior Patrick O'Neill earned the team's first honor (Sept. 2) following the team's 42-32 road win at Azusa... O'Neill finished with 6 tackles and 2 pass breakups, and got USD on the scoreboard first in the 1st quarter when he returnd an interception 93 yards for a TD.
SCOUTING THE DAVIDSON WILDCATS: Davidson brings a record of 5-3 (3-2 PFL) to Torero Stadium this Saturday... The Wildcats are making their second straight PFL road trip after they traveled to Butler last weekend... They earned a 44-32 win over the Bulldogs as Justin Williams rushed for 225 yards and 4 TDs... They are riding a two-game win streak which started with a 24-21 home win over Drake... In that game the Wildcats tied an NCAA D-I record with 3 safeties... Third-year head coach Tripp Merritt (15-13 record), who is 10-4 over the past 14 games, returns 36 lettermen and 13 starters from last year's 6-4 club... Individual leaders include QB Ryan Alexander (120-214 for 1,453 yards and 8 TDs), freshman RB Kenny Mantuo (316 yards, 6 TDs), WR Ryan Hubbard (45 catches for 539 yards, 2 TDs), junior ILB Peter Bakke (60 tackles), junior SS Matt Easton (57 tackles) and PK Cody Elder (7-10 FGs, 45 points)... Davidson won the first meeting between these two schools back on Oct. 14, 2000, in a game played at Torero Stadium... Final score, 27-13.
TOREROS DEALT FIRST LOSS BY FLYERS (Oct. 27th): The USD football team suffered its first regular season PFL game to the Dayton Flyers, 35-16. USD QB Josh Johnson did record his 100th touchdown pass of his career, however was unable to find a rhythm against the Flyers. Dayton scored quickly in the first two minutes of the game on a 14 yard pass to Matt Champa taking a 7-0 lead. USD marched 68 yards down the field five minutes later to tie the game as Johnson hooked up with Godfrey Smith. The Dayton Flyers would score two more touchdowns in the 2nd quarter to take a 21-7 lead at the break. Ten minutes into the third quarter, the Flyers found the endzone again as Ben Shappie finished off a 13-play, 60-yard drive with a two yard rush to extend Dayton's lead 28-7. With one minute left in the third quarter, USD's Hutch Parker posted a 43-yard FG cutting Dayton's lead 28-10. In the 4th quarter, Johnson found Mitch Ryan in the endzone for a 14-yard TD as the Toreros fought to comeback. USD's two-point attempt failed as USD trailed 28-16. The Flyers would burn out the remainder of the fourth quarter on a drive that led to their 5th TD of the afternoon for the final score of 35-16. For the game. Johnson threw for 230 yards and two TDs, and was 18-41 passing. Other leaders included WR Wes Doyle (8 receptions for 63 yards), RB JT Rogan ( 13 carries for 43 yards), DE Eric Bakhtiari (9 tackles, 2 pass sacks and 2 blocked FG attempts), LB Tyler Evans (13 tackles) and CB Gabe Derricks (10 stops). Dayton QB Kevin Hoyng rushed for 127 yards with two touchdowns, and added 252 yards on 23-for-29 passing with 2 TDs.
PFL PRESEASON COACHES POLL: The Pioneer Football League's Coaches tabbed the USD Toreros as the preseason favorite in the PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving five of the eight possible first-place votes. Drake was picked a close second, picking up the remaining three first-place votes, while Davidson got the third-place nod and Dayton was chosen fourth. Morehead State, Jacksonville, Butler and Valparaiso round out the bottom half of the preseason poll.
2007 TEAM CAPTAINS SELECTED: The USD players picked their offensive and defensive team captains for the 2007 campaign - the defensive captains are senior defensive end Eric Bakhtiari (Burlingame, CA) and senior linebacker Ronnie Pentz (Lake Forest, CA); the offensive captains are senior center Jordan Paopao (Oceanside, CA) and senior quarterback Josh Johnson (Oakland, CA).
TORERO GAMES ON RADIO (SAN DIEGO 1700 AM): For the second straight season all of USD's football games will air on commercial radio. Jack Cronin takes over the play-by-play duties, and is joined by Ted Tollner as color analyst, with all remaining games being broadcast on San Diego 1700 AM.
UP NEXT: The Toreros close out their regular-season schedule with road games at Morehead State (Nov. 10th) and UC Davis (Nov. 17th).
