Sept. 23, 2014

USDvsMarist2014

GAME #4: The USD Toreros (2-1; 0-1 PFL), under the direction of second year head coach Dale Lindsey, continue PFL play with a road game at Marist College (0-4; 0-1 PFL) this Saturday, September 27th. Kickoff is slated for 10:00 a.m. (Pacific) at Tenney Stadium (5,000 seats).

SERIES RECORD: USD leads the all-time series 9-0 including last year's 35-33 come-from-behind victory at Torero Stadium on October 12th... Kicker David Last kicked a 28-yard field goal with no time left for the game-winner... Two seasons ago USD downed Marist 34-10 on December 1st in Poughkeepsie, NY... The win allowed USD to share the PFL title for the second straight year... The game was originally scheduled for November 3rd, but was cancelled due to Storm Sandy... Four of the previous five outcomes have been decided by 7 points or less - 2013 (35-33), 2011 (13-7), 2010 (14-10) and 2009 (17-10).

WEBCAST/VIDEO STREAM: Saturday's contest will be webcast live with Jack Cronin (play-by-play) calling the action. The pre-game show begins at 9:50 am (Pacific). The audio feed will be streamed at www.usdtoreros.com. Marist will have a live video stream option (subscription fee) at www.GoRedFoxes.com.

A LOOK AHEAD: Following the Marist game the Toreros have a bye week. They'll be back in action on October 11th when they host Stetson at 2:00 p.m. at the Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium. This will be USD's homecoming/family weekend game.

PFL STANDINGS/SCHEDULE FOR SEPT. 27TH: Jacksonville (1-0 PFL, 2-1), Drake (1-0, 2-2), Morehead State (1-0, 2-2), Butler (0-0, 2-1), Dayton (0-0, 2-1), Stetson (0-0, 2-2), Valparaiso (0-0, 1-2), Campbell (0-0, 0-3), San Diego (0-1, 2-1), Davidson (0-1, 1-3), Marist (0-1, 0-4). PFL Games for Sept. 27th: Jacksonville at Butler, San Diego at Marist, Valparaiso at Campbell, Davidson at Princeton. Off Week: Dayton, Drake, Morehead State, Stetson.

TOREROS PICKED FIRST IN PRESEASON PFL COACHES POLL: For the third straight year the Toreros were picked to finish first in the PFL Preseason Coaches Poll. USD received five of a possible 10 first-place votes and 90 of a maximum 100 points. The Toreros were followed by Dayton (82 points), Jacksonville (80), Butler (77), Drake (73), Marist (61), Campbell (38), Morehead State (35), Stetson (30), Davidson (20) and Valparaiso (19). The PFL will feature 11 teams each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA FCS Championship.

BELL SELECTED co-PFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior wide receiver Reggie Bell (Union City, CA) was named the PFL Co-Offensive Player of the week, sharing the honor with Butler QB Matt Shiltz after making several big plays in the Toreros 39-29 win over Princeton. Bell's first catch went for 82 yards and set the tone for the Torero offense. He also hauled in touchdowns for 29 yards and 48 yards and finished the day with four receptions for 186 yards with the two scores. Bell's contribution didn't just come at wide receiver; he also had a 55 yard punt return and a 19 yard pass to Mason Burnett in the fourth quarter. Bell finished with 245 all-purpose yards. Bell also was selected the CFPA FCS National Wide Receiver of the Week.

TORERO TIDBITS: Saturday's contest will be USD's 10th meeting against the Marist Red Foxes, but just the third trip to Poughkeepsie, New York... Through three games the Toreros are being paced by QB Keith Williams (33-76 for 617 yards and 7 TDs; 239.7 all-purpose yards per game), WR Brandon White (13 receptions for 263 yards, 3 TDs), WR Reggie Bell (10 receptions for 276 yards, 3 TDs; 14.7 yards per punt return), RB Jonah Hodges (281 yards rushing and 2 TDs; 22.8 yards per kickoff return), LB Una Hamala (27 tackles), LB Nic Henson (24 tackles), SAF Troy McClelland (21 tackles, 1 forced fumble), CB Toney Sawyer (19 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 1 interception) and CB Jamal Agnew (2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups)... The senior receiver tandem of Brandon White and Reggie Bell continue their ascent up the Torero record charts... White now has 148 career receptions (#7 all-time) for 1,928 yards (#8 all-time) and 25 TDs (#6 all-time)... With his 10-yard TD reception against Princeton, White now owns 8 straight games with at least one TD reception.... Bell improved his career numbers to 142 receptions (#8 all-time) for 2,209 yards (#7 all-time) and 20 touchdowns (#7 all-time)... Among PFL teams, USD currently ranks 1st in red zone offense (9-9, 1.000%) and red zone defense (9-13, .692)... The Toreros rank second for pass efficiency (132.3 rating), pass defense efficiency (105.7 rating), punting (34.8), and opponent 3rd down conversions (13-45, .289)... USD also ranks third in scoring offense (26.7 ppg) and 5th in scoring defense (27.0 ppg)... USD players among PFL leaders include WR Reggie Bell (#1 in punt returns, 14.7; #3 in receiving yards per game, 92.0), QB Keith Williams (#2 in pass efficiency, 134.1), RB Jonah Hodges (#3 in rushing yards per game, 93.7), K David Last (t-#2 in FGs made per game, 1.0), and LB Una Hamala (#7 in tackles per game, 9.0)... Following a bye next weekend, the Toreros will return to Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium on Saturday, October 11th, when they face Stetson at 2 p.m. (homecoming/family weekend).

SCOUTING THE MARIST RED FOXES: Marist returns to Teney Stadium where they will be looking to snap a four-game skid to open the 2014 campaign... The Red Foxes opened up PFL last week with a 21-6 loss at Drake... Their nonconference losses have come at the hands of Sacred Heart (28-7), Bucknell (22-0) and Georgetown (27-7)... For 2014 Marist was chosen to finish sixth in the PFL preseason coaches poll... Three Red Foxes were selected to the All-PFL Preseason Team - running back Atiq Lucas, linebacker Paul Sakowski, and safety Zach Adler... Marist lost 12 starters from last year's squad that shared the PFL title and finished 8-3 overall (7-1 PFL)... Included in the graduating class was PFL Defender of the Year Terrence Fede (program's first NFL draft choice, 7th round Miami) and QB Chuckie Loonie (program's single-season and career record holder in completions, attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns)... Four-game leaders include RB Atiq Lucas (216 yards on 63 attempts), QB Ed Achziger (51-109 for 541 yards, 1 TD)... WR matt Tralli (21 receptions for 221 yards), FS Zach Adler (39 tackles, 4 interceptions), and SAF Connor Mathias (29 stops)... In recent 21-6 loss to Drake, Marist kicker Mike Maccarone converted two field goals (21, 24)... Head Coach Jim Parady (23rd season) owns a career record of 116-116-1.

TOREROS TEN YEAR RUN: Over the past 10 seasons (2004-2013) the Toreros have combined for an overall record of 81-30 (72.9 winning %)... Last year the Toreros won their final four games to finish 8-3 overall and with a 5-1 mark at Torero Stadium... Including this season's two wins over Western New Mexico and Princeton, USD's home record on Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium since the start of the 2004 campaign is 52-11 (82.5 winning %).