Oct. 2, 2013
USDvsMERCER 
GAME #5: The USD Toreros (1-0 PFL, 2-2), under the direction of first year head coach Dale Lindsey, play a key early season PFL contest this Saturday, October 5th, when they host the Mercer Bears (1-0 PFL, 4-0). Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium (6,000 capacity).
SERIES RECORD: First Meeting. Mercer is playing for the first time since 1941 season.
WEBCAST/VIDEO STREAM: Saturday's contest will be webcast with Jack Cronin (play-by-play) and JT Rogan (color analyst) bringing you all the action. The pre-game begins at 12:50 p.m. (PDT). The video/audio feed will be streamed at www.usdtoreros.com.
A LOOK AHEAD: The Toreros are back at Torero Stadium on October 12th for their annual Homecoming/Family Weekend contest. This year's opponent is the Marist College Red Foxes with kickoff slated for 2:00 p.m. (PDT).
PFL STANDINGS/SCHEDULE FOR OCT. 5TH: Mercer (1-0 PFL, 4-0), Butler, (1-0, 3-2), San Diego (1-0, 2-2), Marist (1-0, 2-2), Valparaiso (1-0, 1-3), Jacksonville (1-1, 2-3), Morehead State (1-1, 1-4), Dayton (0-1, 2-2), Campbell (0-1, 1-3), Drake (0-1, 1-3), Stetson (0-1, 1-3), Davidson (0-1, 0-4). Upcoming PFL Games: Valparaiso at Marist (12 noon), Davidson at Dayton (1pm), Morehead State at Campbell (1pm), Stetson at Butler (1pm), Jacksonville at Drake (2pm). All times Eastern.
USD TABBED PFL FAVORITE IN PRESEASON COACHES POLL: USD, which has won a share of the last two PFL regular season titles, was picked to win the 2013 PFL crown in a preseason vote of the league's coaches. San Diego received five of a possible 11 first-place votes and 111 of a maximum 121 points as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the poll. Following USD was Butler (4 votes, 110 points), Jacksonville (2 votes; 99 points), Drake (1 vote; 99 points), Dayton (85 points), Marist (67 points), Morehead State (65 points), Campbell (49 points), Davidson (42 points), Valparaiso (32 points), Mercer (20 points), Stetson (13 points).
OLIARO NAMED A SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY: Senior defensive end Blake Oliaro (Folsom, Calif.) received some outstanding news today when he was selected as one of 170 football candidates (from all levels of NCAA and NAIA) for the 2013 William V. Campbell Trophy. The 2013 William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation. Each candidate must meet the highest standards based on their performance in the classroom, on the field and as outstanding leaders and citizens in the community. Sixteen of the honorees will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship with one being named the winner of the William v. Campbell Trophy. Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of not-for-profit workplace retirement savings plans in higher education, has been the presenting sponsor since 2011. Oliaro carries a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 in his major of Mechanical Engineering. Along with minoring in Chemistry, Oliaro plans to attend Medical School and become an orthopedic surgeon. A three-year starter, he currently owns 24.5 career quarterback sacks.
TORERO TIDBITS: USD looks to get back to its winning ways at Torero Stadium after seeing their 13-game home winning streak get snapped by Harvard back on September 21st... The team's 59 points scored at Stetson this past Saturday was the most by a Torero team since earning a 62-33 win over Jacksonville during the 2007 campaign (Oct. 20th)... Since joining the PFL ranks back in 1993, this marked the seventh time that USD scored 59 or more points in a game... The most during this stretch was in its 68-7 win over Valparaiso during the 2006 campaign... The all-time school record for points scored is from its 69-0 win over Cal Tech in 1970 when the Toreros competed as a club team... USD's 624 yards of offense against Stetson was the program's most since totaling 648 against Davidson on Sept. 30, 2006... USD's 345 yards rushing against the Hatters was the program's most since tallying 355 against Valparaiso on Oct. 8, 2011... Among the 12 PFL programs, USD ranks 1st in passing efficiency (157.1 rating), time of possession (34:52), penalties (29.8 yards per game) and field goals (5-5)... The Toreros rank 2nd in kickoff coverage (40.6 yards) and opponent first downs (16.5 per game)... Among all PFL players, freshman Ryan Belden ranks first in punting (43.3 yard average)... Among all FCS programs, USD ranks 10th in total offense (397.8) and 12th in team passing efficiency (157.11).
JAMES & MILLS EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION: Senior running back Kenn James (San Diego, Calif.) and senior quarterback Mason Mills (Coronado, Calif.) were both recognized as offensive performers of the week by the national organization College Football Performance Awards (CFPA)... Against Stetson, James rushed 13 times for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns... He found the endzone from 24 and 34 yards outs... Mills, who left the game after the first series in the third period, completed 18-of-20 passes for 269 yards and 2 scores, both to WR Brandon White (2 & 15 yards).
MILLS SETS CAREER PASSING RECORD: Senior QB Mason Mills has been recognized by the San Diego Hall of Champions as a star of the month for September... Additionally, Mills became the USD's all-time leader in pass attempts this past weekend... With 20 attempts against Stetson his new total is 1,078 as he passed by Josh Johnson (1,065 from 2004-2007)... With his 4th completion this Saturday against Mercer, he'll pass by Josh Johnson in completions and reach 725... Mills' current career passing numbers are 721-for-1,078 for 8,757 yards and 68 touchdowns... Johnson, who played sparingly during his freshman campaign in 2004, finished with numbers of 724-for-1,065 for 9,699 yards and 113 touchdowns.... Johnson is in his 6th year of NFL action and is currently with the Cincinnati Bengals.
JAMES CLOSING IN ON 2,000 RUSHING YARDS: Senior running back Kenn James (San Diego, Calif.), coming off a season-best 146 yards rushing at Stetson, has moved into the team's top spot with 333 yards on just 37 carries (9.0 yards per carry average)... It marked the 9th time James has reached 100 or more yards in a game, and the 146 yards was his third best effort... His career best was 207 yards with 3 TDs at Valparaiso on Oct. 8th, 2011... James will enter the Mercer game with 1,911 career rushing yards (7th all-time in school history)... Holding down the 6th spot is Joe Henry (2,085 yards from 1978-81)... The all-time mark for rushing yards is held by current USD football radio analyst JT Rogan (3,559 yards from 2005-09).
TOREROS AT HOME AGAINST PFL OPPONENTS: The Toreros head into Saturday's game with Mercer having won their last ten home PFL openers on Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium... Since 1993 the Toreros are 16-4 at Torero Stadium when facing their first PFL opponent at home... Over the past 20 seasons the Toreros have a combined PFL record at Torero Stadium of 39-17.
SCOUTING THE MERCER BEARS: Mercer is playing football for the first time since the 1941 season... They are in their first and only year as a member of the Pioneer Football League and are off to a 4-0 start (1-0 PFL)... The Bears will transition to scholarship football and move to the historic Southern Conference beginning in the fall of 2014... Head Coach Bobby Lamb (Furman, '87) opened the PFL schedule with a convincing 31-17 home win over Drake University this past Saturday... That win was preceded by three straight non-conference home wins over Reinhardt (40-37), Warner (61-0) and Berry (43-0)... Against the Drake Bulldogs, Mercer was paced by sophomore DB Alex Avant... His 35-yard interception return for a TD found its way into ESPN SportsCenter's Top-10 plays, and also gave the Bears a 17-0 lead at the time... In addition to the pick-six, he totaled 11 tackles (7 solo)... QB John Russ completed 9-23 for 172 yards and 1TD, while RB Payton Usher totaled 90 yards on 22 carries... Season leaders include Usher (457 yards rushing), Russ (38-77 for 647 yards, 9 TDs) and MLB Tyler Ward (35 tackles)... From Macon, Georgia, the Bears are making their first road trip of the season... Of their 108 players listed on their roster, 85 are from the state of Georgia... Mercer FB Contact: David Beall (beall_jd@mercer.edu).
