Oct. 23, 2013

USDvsBUTLER

SERIES RECORD: This will be the 19th meeting between USD and Butler with theToreros owning a 13-5 series advantage... The last time these two teams met was the PFL opener back in 2010, a USD victory (24-0)... In games played at Torero Stadium the Toreros have won the last five meetings... USD's first ever PFL win came against Butler back in 1993.

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). Live video and stats can also be found at www.usdtoreros.com.

A LOOK AHEAD: The Toreros hit the road for back-to-back games against Valparaiso (Nov. 2nd, 10 am PDT) and Morehead State (Nov. 9th, 10 am PDT).

PFL STANDINGS/SCHEDULE FOR OCT. 26TH: Butler (4-0 PFL, 6-2), San Diego, (3-1, 4-3), Dayton (3-1, 4-3), Marist (3-1, 4-3), Morehead State (3-1, 3-4), Mercer (2-1 PFL, 6-1), Drake (2-2, 3-4), Jacksonville (2-2, 3-4), Valparaiso (1-3, 1-6), Stetson (0-3, 1-5), Campbell (0-4, 1-6), Davidson (0-4, 0-7). Other upcoming PFL Games: Dayton at Morehead State (1pm), Davidson at Jacksonville (1pm), Stetson at Marist (1pm), Valparaiso at Drake (2pm), Mercer at Campbell (4pm). All times eastern.

TORERO TIDBITS: USD saw its 9-game PFL winning streak end with Saturday's double overtime loss at Dayton... Among PFL teams, USD ranks first in pass efficiency (161.4), field goals (9-9, 1.000), 3rd down conversions (47.8%; 43-90) and time of possession (35:10)... The Toreros rank 2nd in total offense (490.3), pass offense (314.0) and kick coverage (40.8)... Individually, Mason Mills ranks 1st in total offense (295.6), passing yards per game (308.7) and pass efficiency (162.5); Reggie Bell ranks 1st in receiving yards per game (107.0), and Blake Oliaro ranks 1st in tackles for loss (1.36)... With 2,065 career rushing yards, senior Kenn James needs just 21 more yards to move into USD's all-time 6th spot which is currently held by Joe Henry (2,085; 1978-81)... USD freshman punter Ryan Belden slipped to 2nd in the PFL with his 43.3 average; Campbell's Adam Lutz moved ahead barely with his 43.5 average... Senior LB Michael Ruffino's 15 tackles (9 solo) at Dayton was a personal best; it is also the top mark for a Torero since Derek Pilkington tallied 17 stops against Davidson on Nov. 7, 2009.

MILLS CLOSING IN ON 10,000 YARDS PASSING MILESTONE: Senior QB Mason Mills, who now owns three career USD passing marks for yards (9,797), attempts (1,190) and completions (790), will be looking to become just the 5th PFL signal caller to reach the 10,000-yard milestone... The four members of this elite club include Jacksonville's Josh McGregor (11,230 yards; 2008-11), Morehead State's Zach Lewis (10,251), Davidson's Jonathan Carkhuff (10,221; still competing this season) and Drake's Mike Piatkowski (10,200)... With his 5 touchdown passes against Dayton he moved into the #2 all-time spot at USD with 79... Mills passed by Eric Rasmussen (74, 2000-03) in that category, but will not catch Josh Johnson (113; 2004-07)... Johnson, now in his 6th year of NFL play, is in his first season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

FERGUSON TURNS IN BIG EFFORT AT DAYTON: Senior RB Joe Ferguson had a monster day against the Dayton Flyers as he finished with 214 all-purpose yards... He finished with 167 yards rushing on 24 carries, and chipped in with 5 receptions for 47 yards and a 10-yard TD reception... His 167 yard rushing effort betters his earlier season-best of 156 yards against Western New Mexico University, but was just shy of his personal best of 170 yards set last year against Davidson... He moved into the team's top spot for rushing yards this season with 550 on 74 attempts (7.4 yards per carry average).

HOEKSTRA CLOSE TO 2,000 RECEIVING YARDS: Senior WR Sam Hoekstra is nearing the 2,000 receiving yards milestone... He'll enter the Butler game with 1,970 yards... Among USD players all-time, Hoekstra ranks 6th in yards and 5th in receptions (160)... Hoekstra is already the school's record holder for punt returns (69) and punt return yards (691).

FIELD GOAL STREAK CONTINUES FOR LAST: Redshirt sophomore kicker David Last has made all nine of his field goal attempts this season... The nine straight makes is a new Torero streak breaking the previous mark of 7 (Ernie Collins, 2012; Tim Roth, 1997)... His 9th make came this past weekend against Dayton from 48 yards in the 4th period... Last, who kicked the game-winner against Marist two weeks ago with no time on the clock from 28-yards, got some help from the Marist defense to set the previous record of 8... His first attempt from 33 yards with 5 seconds to go missed wide, but the Red Foxes were called for a roughing the kicker penalty... Last leads the Toreros in scoring with 57 points.

SCOUTING THE BUTLER BULLDOGS: The Butler Bulldogs (4-0 PFL, 6-2) sit atop the Pioneer Football League standings... They'll come to Torero Stadium riding a 4-game winning streak... This past Saturday, without the services of regular starting QB Matt Lancaster, the Bulldogs dealt Drake a 24-14 loss... Senior Wade Markley, filling in for Lancaster, completed 27-of-44 passes for 253 yards and 1 score... Senior RB Trae Heeter totaled 113 yards rushing, while WR Tom Judge hauled in 8 balls for 74 yards...For the season the Bulldogs are being paced by Lancaster (144-228 for 1,533 yards and 10 TDs; 360 yards rushing with 7 TDs), Heeter (881 yards rushing with 8 TDs), WR Brendan Shannon (45 receptions for 513 yards, 2 TDs), kicker Jon Treloar (5-5 FGs, 33-34 PATs, 48 points), Safety David Burke (50 tackles, 2 interceptions), and LB Zach Sedivy (41 stops, 2 sacks).. Last season Butler finished 7-1 in PFL play and 8-3 overall, owning a share of the PFL title with San Diego and Drake... Butler also won PFL titles in 2009 (11-1 record; 7-1 PFL) and 1994 (7-3 record, 4-1 PFL)... Head Coach Jeff Voris (DePauw '89) is in his 8th year with Butler where he owns a record of 47-38.