San Diego Toreros (0-0, 0-0 PFL)  • Cal Poly Mustangs (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky) 
Saturday, Aug. 31  • 2:05 p.m. (PT)
Alex G. Spanos Stadium (11,075)  • San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Live Audio  | Live Stream • Pluto TV (Channel 544) | Live Statistics 
Social  • Facebook.com/USDFootball  • Twitter: @USDFootball • Instagram: @USDFootball

SAN DIEGO – Coming off its fifth straight conference championship and third consecutive appearance in the FCS Playoffs, San Diego will begin its 2019 season on the road against Cal Poly on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The defending Pioneer Football League (PFL) champions return eight starters on the defensive side of the ball, including Preseason All-PFL selections Nick Friedel (DL) and Kama Kamaka (NB). Offensively, senior wide receiver Michael Bandy, who set USD's school record for receiving yards (1,698) last year, highlights a group of five returners.

The Toreros enter 2019 No. 24 in the 2019 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 and received votes in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Poll and STATS FCS Preseason Top 25.

The game will be available to watch on Pluto TV. It will also have live audio on www.USDToreros.com with Jack Cronin on the call. Live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.


LAST TIME OUT: TOREROS IN 2018
- A season ago, the Toreros (9-3, 8-0 PFL) captured their seventh Pioneer Football League (PFL) title over the last eight seasons and earned the league's automatic bid into the FCS Playoffs for the third straight year. In the first round of postseason play, USD lost to Nicholls State, 49-30.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST CAL POLY
- USD is 1-4 all-time against the Mustangs, with its lone win coming in the 2016 FCS Playoffs. The Toreros are 1-3 on the road in the series.

LOOKING AHEAD
- The Toreros begin their home campaign with a matchup against another Big Sky opponent in No. 5 UC Davis. USD and the Aggies square off on Saturday, September 7 at Torero Stadium.

STANDOUT AT WIDEOUT
- Coming off a record-breaking season, senior wide receiver Michael Bandy will look to better his 2018 campaign when he takes the field this season. The All-American and Walter Payton Award Watch List selection led the Toreros with a school-record 1,698 receiving yards last year as well as 88 receptions and 14 touchdowns.
- His 1,698 receiving yards are the fifth-most in a single season in FCS history while his average of 141.5 receiving yards per game is 10th-best all-time.
- Last year, Bandy was one of six players nationally to earn first team honors on the following four FCS All-America teams: AP, STATS, Walter Camp and ADA.
- Prior to the breakout campaign, Bandy had a total of 29 receptions, 444 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first two seasons at USD in 2016 and 2017.

ANOTHER WEAPON ON THE OUTSIDE
- Flanking the opposite side of Michael Bandy is another senior wide receiver who is a threat offensively and in special teams: Michael Armstead. The 2018 PFL Special Teams Player of the Year and All-PFL first team return specialist averaged 23.0 yards per catch last year in addition to registering 32.3 yards per kick return.
- The Monterey, Calif. product scored five touchdowns, three as a receiver and two on kickoffs. One of his kick return touchdowns was a 100-yard return against Jacksonville on October 27.
- In total, Armstead had 1,435 all-purpose yards last season (553 receiving, 840 kick return, 37 punt return).

NEW LEADER UNDER CENTER
- After serving as the backup a year ago, Reid Sinnett will take over the starting quarterback role for the Toreros. The redshirt senior has appeared in 33 contests throughout his career in mostly end-of-game action. He is 24-of-48 in pass attempts, throwing for 316 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He also has 94 rushing yards on 30 attempts.
- Sinnett replaces four-year starter Anthony Lawrence, who finished his career as USD's all-time leader in several categories including passing yards and touchdowns.
- The Johnstown, Iowa native was also recruited by Harvard, Penn, Yale and Kanas coming out of Johnstown High School.

FRESH LINE OF PROTECTION
- Protecting Sinnett is nearly an entire new offensive line. Aidan Valencia (LT), who was an All-PFL Second Team selection at right tackle a season ago, will switch sides and start at left tackle. Meanwhile, the starting interior line - true freshman Nicolas Bisogno (LG), redshirt sophomore Trent Forster (C) and sophomore Luke Lacilento (RG) - have a combined six games played in their collegiate careers. Starting right tackle DJ Wright appeared in eight games last season as a redshirt freshman.

RUNNING BACK INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
- Emilio Martinez enters the season among USD's all-time leaders as he is tied for tied for eighth in career rushing touchdowns (19) and seventh in career rushing average (5.3). The rushing touchdowns are tied with Josh Johnson (2004-07) on the all-time list, while he is two away from seventh on the list (21, Scott Sporrer, 1989-92). Martinez is 257 yards away from 2,000 in his career, which would make him the first to cross that mark for the Toreros since Jonah Hodges (2,809 from 2014 to 2016).

GETTING DEFENSIVE
- The Toreros return their leading tackler from last season, junior nickelback Kama Kamaka. The Kailua, Hawaii native had 69 total tackles in his sophomore campaign, including 40 solo. He was third among USD players with six pass break-ups and tied for third with four QB hurries.
- Kamaka has appeared in all 25 games in his career, totaling 110 tackles (62 solo). He was named to the All-PFL Second Team last year and All-PFL Preseason Team entering 2019.

SECONDARY EXPERIENCE
- Among its eight returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, USD's starting secondary features four letterwinners and three who played significant time in 2018. Cornerbacks David Tolbert and Cassius Johnson each played 11 games last year while strong safety Bryan Kelly played in 12 and free safety Isaac Haney four.
- Tolbert is the key returner in the secondary as the All-PFL Honorable Mention from last year led the Toreros with 14 pass break-ups and added 48 tackles (37 solo) and one interception. The senior has appeared in 29 career games.
- At the deepest line of defense in secondary is strong safety Bryan Kelly, who had 37 tackles (23 solo) and two pass break-ups last year. He played in all 12 games.

BIG BODY IN THE END ZONE
- Tight end Dalton Kincaid is technically second on the USD depth chart, but he is a true threat in the red zone. The 6-foot-5-inch sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada, had 11 touchdowns in his freshman campaign, including nine in the red zone and four in the FCS playoffs against Nicholls State (three in the red zone).
- The 11 touchdown receptions were second on the team, trailing Michael Bandy's 14.

AS A TEAM IN THE NCAA
- In 2018, USD ranked among the nation's best as a team in the following categories.

SEASON OPENERS
- For the first time since 2015, the Toreros will not open the season in their home stadium. The last time USD played an away game to start a campaign was a 37-3 loss to San Diego State at then-Qualcomm Stadium.
- The last time USD opened a season outside of San Diego was 2013 when it lost at Cal Poly, 38-16. It was the second of consecutive seasons the Toreros began a season at Cal Poly (L, 14-41 in 2012).
- USD has won three straight season openers and four of its last five.

TOREROS IN 2019
- USD is in its 57th season of play, and 27th season as a member of the Pioneer Football League. The Toreros own the second-most PFL titles with 10 (Dayton leads with 12) and have won seven of the past eight PFL championships (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015c, 2014, 2012c, 2011c). They also won three straight PFL titles from 2005 to 2007 (co-championship).
- The Toreros have reached the FCS Playoffs in three straight seasons and four times in the last five years.

COACH LINDSEY IN HIS SEVENTH SEASON
- Since the 2013 season under head coach Dale Lindsey, the Toreros have won 55 of 71 games, including 29 straight in conference play.

TEAM CAPTAINS
- Michael Bandy (WR), Zach Nelson (TE) and Marcus Vaivao (LB) were selected as the team captains for 2018.

OVER A DECADE OF DOMINANCE
- Since the 2005 season, the Toreros have combined for an overall record of 119-40 (.748), and a PFL mark of 81-15 (.844).
- USD's overall home record since the start of the 2005 campaign is 72-10 (.878).
- The Toreros have won 35 straight home PFL games, dating back to Oct. 9, 2010, in a 21-20 loss against Dayton. USD has won 29 straight PFL games dating back to Oct. 10, 2015, in a 13-12 loss at Dayton.

BANDY SELECTED TO WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
- Michael Bandy was one of 25 players named to the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award Watch List, which is considered the Heisman of the FCS. It is the third straight year a Torero has appeared on the award's preseason watch list as former quarterback Anthony Lawrence received the preseason recognition in 2017 and 2018.

BANDY IS A PRESEASON FCS ALL-AMERICAN
- In addition to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, Michael Bandy was named a 2019 STATS FCS Preseason First Team All-American. He was one of 98 players selected to the three-squad team and one of nine players who were STATS FCS All-America first team selections last year.

ANOTHER TORERO ON A WATCH LIST
- Michael Bandy was not the only Torero to be recognized on a national player of the year watch list. Tanner Kuljian was named to the 28-player watch list for the FCS Punter of the Year Award, presented by The Augusta Sports Council (also home to the Ray Guy Award). Kuljian ranked 14th in the nation last year in punting average, turning in a 42.8 yards per punt clip.

SIX TOREROS EARN PRESEASON PFL HONORS
- Michael Bandy (WR) and Emilio Martinez (RB) were named to the Preseason All-PFL offensive team, while Nick Friedel (DE) and Kama Kamaka (NB) were selected on the defensive side. Michael Armstead (KR) and Tanner Kuljian (P/K) were named Preseason All-PFL special teams.

FOR NINTH STRAIGHT SEASON, THE TOREROS ARE THE FAVORITE IN THE PFL
- San Diego was selected to finish first in the Pioneer Football League Preseason Coaches Poll for the ninth consecutive season.
- USD was selected to finish first with 79 points while Dayton was picked to finish runner-up with 65 points. Drake (64) was voted to finish third, followed by Marist, Davidson (48), Stetson (44), Butler (37), Jacksonville (30), Morehead State and Valparaiso (15-point tie).
- The Toreros earned seven of the 10 first-place votes, with Dayton earning the other three.

WINNING IN THE CLASSROOM
- USD had 50 players named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll in 2018. The academic honor roll consists of student-athletes who participated in football at member institutions during the fall semester and posted a 3.0 grade-point average or higher during the semester

COACHING STAFF RELOADS 
- The Torero coaching staff underwent some changes prior to the season, including changes at offensive coordinator and offensive line.
- Quarterbacks coach Christian Taylor will also now serve as the sole offensive coordinator, after splitting the role last season with former offensive line coach Jim Jackson, who took a coaching role with UMass.
- Replacing Jackson as the offensive line coach is Cory White, who served as the Torero tight ends coach last season but was the offensive line coach in 2013. White has spent a total of three years on the USD coaching staff, with the first being in 2012 as the tight ends coach.
- Dorian Keller, a former player and assistant coach at USD as well as assistant at Cal Poly (2015), is the new tight ends coach. Keller was the co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Division III Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) last year and has coaching stops at San Diego State and Idaho State in addition to USD and Cal Poly.