Oct. 13, 2005

GAME #7: The USD Toreros (5-1; 1-0 PFL), currently ranked No. 2 in the I-AA Mid-Major Top-10 Poll, will have their shot at claiming the No. 1 spot when they travel to Dayton, Ohio to take on the No. 1 ranked Dayton Flyers (6-0; 1-0 PFL) on Saturday, October 15th (1 pm EDT at Welcome Stadium). The live radio broadcast can be heard via the internet at www.Dayton Flyers.com or www.USDToreros.com.

SERIES RECORD: The Dayton Flyers lead the overall series 10-2, but the Toreros have won the last two meetings... USD downed Dayton in San Diego last year, 38-35, on Nov. 6th to claim 2nd place in the PFL race... two years ago in Dayton, the Toreros managed a 41-30 victory in their final game of the season to claim a share of the PFL North Division title at 3-1 with Valparaiso.

HEAD COACH Jim Harbaugh: Harbaugh is his 2nd season after a 7-4 mark in his rookie year. Off to a 5-1 start, he heads into the Dayton game with a 12-5 record. Prior to being named USD's 11th head coach, he spent two seasons in the NFL as an offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders. He spent 15 years in the NFL with five different teams - Chicago (1987-1993), Indianapolis (1994-97), Baltimore (1998), San Diego (1999-00) and Carolina (2001). A 1987 first round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, Jim played in 117 NFL games with 140 starts. For his career he completed 2,305 of 3,918 passes for 26,288 yards with 129 touchdowns. In 1995 he led Indianapolis to the AFC Championship game; was voted to the Pro Bowl; was named the 1995 Comeback Player of the Year and the AFC Player of the Year; and was runner-up in the NFL MVP voting. A 1986 graduate of Michigan, Jim was a 3-year starter for legendary coach Bo Schembechler. In his senior year in '86, Jim guided Michigan to a No. 2 national ranking while earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors and finishing 3rd in the Heisman race. Jim and his wife, Miah, have three kids - Jay, James, and Grace.

PFL NORTH STANDINGS/SCHEDULE: Dayton (6-0; 1-0 PFL), SAN DIEGO (5-1; 1-0), Drake (3-3; 0-1), Valparaiso (1-5; 0-0), Butler (0-6; 0-1). OCT. 15TH SCHEDULE: USD at Dayton (1 pm), Valparaiso at Butler (2 pm), Drake (bye week).

TOREROS REMAIN AT NO. 2 IN THE SPORTS NETWORK MID-MAJOR POLL: The USD Toreros stayed at No. 2 for the fourth straight week in The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 Poll. The Toreros (5-1) trail PFL-foe Dayton (6-0), but rank ahead of Monmouth (4-1), Morehead State (5-1), Marist (4-2), Drake (3-3), Duquesne (2-3), Robert Morris (2-3), Wagner (4-2), St. Francis-PA (2-3). The poll includes only I-AA Mid-Major teams from the PFL, MAAC, and NEC.

TOREROS OPEN PFL SLATE WITH 49-7 WIN OVER BUTLER - The USD Toreros (5-1; 1-0 PFL) opened up their PFL schedule in fine form with today's 49-7 victory over the visiting Butler Bulldogs before 2,645 fans at Torero Stadium. Once again the defense turned in an outstanding effort, and sophomore quarterback Josh Johnson led the offense by completing 26-of-32 passes for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns. The USD coaching staff has been preaching getting out to fast starts and the Toreros' didn't disappoint as they jumped to a 35-0 halftime lead. "I thought our starters came out of the gates strong today, something we've been stressing the past couple of weeks," said head coach Jim Harbaugh. "That is something we'll need to continue at Dayton. We also got a great game by our quarterback (Josh Johnson), he executed at the top of his game. The line gave him great protection all day." In the first quarter Johnson connected with WR John Matthews for a 31-yard strike with 5:05 to go that finished off a 5-play 71-yard drive. The Torero defense put their stamp on the quarter one minute later when junior DB Josh Brisco picked off a Butler pass and returned it 19 yards to put USD ahead 14-0.In the 2nd quarter Johnson connected with WR Nick Garton for a 10-yard score at the 9:29 mark that finished off a 16-play, 82 yard drive. More importantly, the Toreros ran off 6:47 of clock in the process while taking a 21-0 lead. Freshman running back JT Rogan scored the first of two rushing touchdowns from 8 yards out with 4:20 to go, and with 00:34 left before intermission Johnson passed to WR Adam Hannula for a 29 yard TD strike and 35-0 halftime advantage. In the third period Rogan punched in from 2 yards out to extend USD's lead to 42-0. The Butler Bulldogs continued to fight and put together an 11-play, 70 yard drive with T.J. Brown connecting with WR Matt McCanna for a 14-yard score with 2:31 left in the period. That marked the first touchdown the USD defense has given up in the 2nd half this season. USD closed out the scoring in the final period as backup quarterback David Perez connected with WR Eric Gregg for an 11-yard score with 10:25 to go. For the game USD totaled 576 yards of offense on 80 plays. The Torero defense, which entered the game ranked 2nd in the nation in scoring defense at 8.0 points per game, kept the Bulldogs to 7. Butler finished with just 53 yards rushing and 163 yards of offense on 52 plays. Besides Johnson's big day, the Toreros received big individual performances from JT Rogan (117 yards rushing, 2 TDs), WR Nick Garton (7 catches for 78 yards, 1 TD), WR Adam Hannula (5 catches for 91 yards, 1 TD), SS Philip Bretsch (6 tackles, 1 pass breakup), Kyson Hawkins and Colin Murphy (5 tackles each), and Josh Brisco (4 stops, int. return for TD).

TOREROS RANK IN I-AA TOP-20 STATISTICS - DEFENSE LEADS THE WAY: The USD Toreros find themselves ranked in 19 Top-20 categories for all I-AA schools... the Torero defense finds itself ranked in ten areas, and in the Top-5 in four categories... the Torero defense is 2nd in scoring defense (7.8 ppg) and total defense (216.7 ypg), 3rd in rushing defense (55.5 ypg) and 4th down defense efficiency (10%), 6th in pass efficiency defense (87.54 rating), 7th in 3rd down defense efficiency (25.3%; 19x75), 10th in passes intercepted (9), 15th in turnover margin (+1.0), 17th in kickoff return defense (16.83 yards per return), 18th in turnovers gained (14) and 23rd in pass defense (161.17). The USD offense ranks 1st in 4th down efficiency (83.3%; 10x12), 6th in 3rd down efficiency (51%; 50x98), 10th in total offense (452.8 ypg), 12th in scoring offense (36.67), 13th in pass efficiency (150.9) and kickoff returns (23.09 yards per return), 15th in passing offense (284.3), 16th in fumbles lost (3), and 20th in turnovers lost (8). Individually, QB Josh Johnson is 9th in points responsible for (15.67), 13th in completions per game (21.17), 14th in pass efficiency (151.2), and 17th in total offense (267.5).

6-GAME STATISTICAL LEADERS: Through six games the Toreros are being led by QB Josh Johnson (127-190 for 1,477 yards and 14 TDs; 267.5 yards of total offense per game), RB JT Rogan (497 yards rushing with 3 TDs; 110.3 all-purpose yards pg), WRs Adam Hannula (32 catches for 423 yards and 3 TDs), Nick Garton (30 for 334 yards, 5 TDs) and Wes Doyle (20 catches for 227 yards and 1 TD), kicker Hutch Parker (7-10 FG; 27-27 PAT; 48 points), punter George Villa (38.2 ave.), LB Kyson Hawkins (45 tackles, 8 for loss), SS Philip Bretsch (32 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 TD return), DB Adam Burke (24 tackles, 7 pass breakups), LB Tyler Evans (23 tackles, 1 forced fumble), LB Ronnie Pentz (21 tackles), DE Eric Bakhtiari (18 tackles; 5 for loss; 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), DB Chase McBride (15 tackles, 7 pass breakups), FS Scott Cooper (15 tackles, 2 int.), & Josh Brisco (3 int.).

HOW USD STACKS UP AGAINST PFL FOES: The Torero team and players also rank among the statistical leaders against their PFL counterparts - as a team USD ranks 1st in rushing defense (55.5), scoring defense (7.8 ppg), total defense (216.7 ypg), pass offense (284.3 ypg), first downs (142), opponent 3rd down conversion percentage (.253), red zone defense (54.5%), Sacks By (13), PAT kicking (27-for-27) and possession time (34:46). USD players that rank among the top-5 in PFL statistics include JT Rogan (5th in rushing, 82.8 ypg), Josh Johnson (1st in passing, 246.2 ypg; 1st in total offense, 267.5 ypg; 3rd in pass efficiency, 151.2), Adam Hannula (t-1st in receptions per game, 5.33; 2nd in receiving yards, 70.5), Nick Garton (3rd in receptions per game, 5.0; 4th in receiving yards, 55.7; 4th in punt returns, 6.9), Hutch Parker (1st in scoring, 8.0 ppg; 2nd in field goals, 1.17 made pg; t-1st in PAT kicking percentage, 1.000), Eric Bakhtiari (3rd in sacks, 0.5 pg), Kyson Hawkins (t-2nd in tackles for loss, 1.0 pg), Philip Bretsch (t-2nd in fumbles forced, 0.33 pg), Chase McBride (t-1st in passes defended, 1.33 pg), Adam Burke (t-3rd in passes defended, 1.17 pg), and Josh Brisco (t-3rd in interceptions, 0.50 pg).

JOSH JOHNSON HONORED BY SAN DIEGO HALL OF CHAMPIONS: USD sophomore QB Josh Johnson (Oakland, CA) was recognized by the San Diego Hall of Champions as one of their Amateur Stars of the Month for September. The sophomore quarterback from Oakland Tech led the Toreros to a 3-1 start in September, including the program's first win over an Ivy League school with a 17-14 come-from-behind victory on Sept. 17 against Yale at Torero Stadium. Johnson was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Week for the Pioneer Football League for his performance against Yale when he was 22-of-34 passing for 198 yards and the game-winning touchdown. He finished the month completing 90-of-143 passes (62.9 percent) for 959 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 11 yards and one touchdown in 39 attempts. USD also beat Azusa Pacific and Southern Oregon before defeating Yale and losing at Princeton, 20-17.

Adam Hannula CAREER WATCH: Senior receiver Adam Hannula became USD's all-time receptions leader in the Toreros' 17-14 win over Yale... with 3 catches for 51 yards and 1 TD in the team's win over Menlo, he also became the first Torero receiver to crack 200 career receptions... Adam's current 4-year totals are 206 receptions for 2,806 yards and 28 touchdowns... having already passed Dylan Ching's 189 receptions, Adam has his sights on Ching's other two career marks of 3,111 receiving yards and 32 TD receptions... during his Torero career (37 games) Adam has caught at least 1 pass in every game; has caught at least 1 TD in 21 contests; and hauled in 5 or more receptions in 25 games.

SCOUTING THE DAYTON FLYERS: Dayton is off to a 6-0 start and 1-0 PFL record after Saturday's come-from-behind 25-17 road win over preseason pick Drake... after Drake took a 17-12 lead early in the 4th quarter, the Flyers responded with a 1-yard TD pass from QB Kevin Hoyng to Matt Champa with 5:38 to go (2-point pass failed), and Matt Mong added a 3-yard TD run with 1:13 to go put the game away... Hong had a busy day completing 16-of-25 passes for 173 yards and 2 TDs, in addition to running it 20 times for 47 yards... Matt Mong, UD's 237 lb. senior fullback, only carried the ball four times but found the endzone twice (both 3 yard bursts)... seasonal leaders include junior QB Kevin Hoyng (68-113 for 1,271 yards and 10 TDs; 74 rushes for 332 yards and 5 TDs), senior FB Matt Mong (6 rushing TDs), WR Ryan Wrobleski (32 receptions for 575 yards, 3 TDs), and senior LB John Hoppe (51 tackles)... UD is 3-0 at home this season where they have outscored their opponents, 136-40... the Flyers have only lost once at home since the Toreros beat them two seasons ago, that was a 24-17 loss to Yale on Sept. 18, 2004... head coach Mike Kelly is in his 25th year as head coach (all at Dayton), and has 228 wins... his .831 winning percentage (228-46-1) is the best among active NCAA I-AA coaches (min. five years as head coach).

THE LAST MEETING: USD and Dayton faced off last Nov. 7th at Torero Stadium in a great collegiate football game... the teams battled to a 21-21 halftime score, and entered the final period knotted at 28-all... Torero kicker Hutch Parker nailed a 38-yard field goal for a 31-28 lead... UD answered when Casey Klaus returned a Torero fumble 79 yards for a 35-31 lead with 9:18 to go... after a long Dayton drive that ended with USD's Ronnie Pentz stopping them on a 4th-and-3 attempt, the Toreros took over from the SD 29 with 2:42 to go... QB Todd Mortensen (37-54 for 464 yards, 3 TDs) completed 4-of-6 passes for 70 yards to the UD 1, and RB Evan Harney busted in for the game winner with :35 seconds left... USD DE Eric Baktiari intercepted the Flyers' Brandon Staley's 2nd pass of their drive to ice the game. Torero receiver Michael Gasperson had 11 receptions for 218 yards and 1 score.

WIN OVER YALE A FIRST FOR USD & PFL: USD's 17-14 come-from-behind win over the Yale Bulldogs on Sept. 17th was the Toreros' first win over an Ivy League opponent in six tries... it also marked the first time a PFL team has beaten an Ivy opponent... in the win USD overcame a 14-0 deficit to record the historic victory... redshirt freshman back JT Rogan hauled in a 2-yard TD pass from QB Josh Johnson with 6:37 to go for the game-winner.

TRI-CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED: Torero players picked three of their senior teammates to represent them as 2005 Team Captains - wide receiver Nick Garton, defensive back Philip Bretsch, and honorary captain Evan Harney. Harney, USD's two-time All-America running back, was lost for the season just prior to the start of football camp after suffering head injuries in a freak accident. Over the past two seasons, the 6-1, 215 lb. running back from Fallbrook, California, rewrote USD's record book for rushing by totaling 2,809 yards and 35 touchdowns on 588 attempts.

2005 PRESEASON PFL COACHES POLL: The Toreros are picked 3rd in the PFL Preseason Coaches Poll - 2004 champion Drake is the top pick for the North Division as they received 5 first place votes - the Bulldogs are followed by Dayton, San Diego, Butler & Valparaiso.

2005 PFL CHAMPIONSHIP SITE: The 2005 PFL Championship will be hosted by the PFL North Champion on November 19th. It is the 5th PFL Championship since the beginning of the divisional era in 2000. The PFL North is undefeated in the four previous championships.

PFL TO RETURN TO SINGLE-DIVISION FORMAT IN 2006: The Pioneer Football League will return to a single-division, round-robin format in 2006, the conference announced on Sept. 7th. The league voted this summer on the move back to a single-division format, which the league used in its first eight seasons. The change resulted from the league's reduction to eight members for the 2006 campaign - Austin Peay leaves the conference at the conclusion of the 2005 season. The final round-robin schedule will provide seven league games annually for all teams with alternating seasons of four home/three road games and three home/four road.

UP NEXT: USD returns to Torero Stadium for another important PFL contest when they host the Drake Bulldogs on Saturday, October 22nd (7 pm).