Nov. 3, 2009

USD-Davidson Game Notes

GAME #9: The USD Toreros (3-5; 2-4 pfl) will look to snap their current three-game skid this Saturday, November 7th, when they host the Davidson Wildcats (2-6; 2-4 pfl) in a 1:00 p.m. contest at Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium.

SERIES RECORD: This is the 7th meeting between USD and Davidson with the Toreros owning a 5-1 series advantage... The Toreros have won the last five meetings including last year's 28-24 come-from-behind win at Davidson... The Toreros trailed 21-0 early in the 2nd quarter before rallying for the victory... WR John Matthews hauled in 11 balls for 140 yards and 3 TDs (24-28-9) and RB Matt Jelmini totaled 133 yards on 25 carries.

RADIO/INTERNET/VIDEO: Saturday's contest will air live on San Diego 1700 AM with Jack Cronin calling the action. Cronin's pre-game will begin at 12:40 pm. The audio and video will also be streamed via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com. Click on the WATCH link from the USD website main page.

PFL STANDINGS/SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 7th: Butler (5-0 PFL; 8-0), Dayton (5-0; 7-1), Drake (5-0; 7-1), Marist (4-2; 5-3), Jacksonville (3-2; 4-4), San Diego (2-4; 3-5), Davidson (2-4; 2-6), Campbell (1-4; 2-6), Valparaiso (0-5; 1-7), and Morehead State (0-6; 2-7). This week's PFL games: Butler at Dayton, Valparaiso at Jacksonville, Georgetown at Marist, Campbell at Drake, Davidson at San Diego.

FLYERS RALLY FOR 21-14 WIN OVER TOREROS (Oct. 31st): Despite a 14-7 lead at halftime, the Toreros could not hold on in the end, falling to the Dayton Flyers by a score of 21-14 at Welcome Stadium. Dayton QB Steve Valentino scored all three of the Flyers' touchdowns, including a one-yard rush in the beginning of the 4th quarter to seal the game. USD entered halftime after scoring a touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half, but they quickly surrendered the first of Dayton's two second-half touchdowns on the Flyers' first drive. Valentino, who accounted for 292 of Dayton's 378 total yards on offense, scored with a rushing TD from 15 yards out to tie the game with 11:15 remaining in the third quarter. San Diego's offense was unable to generate any scoring on their five drives in the 2nd half, as they punted the ball twice, turned the ball over on downs twice, and terminated a drive with an interception. USD appeared to have Dayton under their control in the first half, behind a stout defense and impressive play by quarterback, and first-time starter, Bo Stompro. Stompro, a true freshman, found wide receiver Kyle Warren for an 82-yard touchdown pass with 9:21 remaining in the second quarter, putting the Toreros in the lead, 7-0. The Toreros defense prevented the Flyers from scoring on the subsequent drive, holding Dayton to turn the ball over on downs after a failed fourth-down conversion on San Diego's 13-yard line. The red-zone stop was the second of the first half for the Toreros, as the defense forced a Dayton fumble on their own seven-yard line in the first quarter. The San Diego offense was quickly forced into a three-and-out, however, giving the ball back to Dayton. Valentino led Dayton to their first touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive, throwing an 11-yard pass to Nick Collins to tie the game at 7-7. Following a kickoff return by JT Rogan that gave the Toreros decent field position at their own 46-yard line, the San Diego offense answered with a touchdown, an 8-yard completion between Stompro and John McGough, with ten seconds remaining in the first half. The score was set up by Rogan, who scrambled for a 45-yard run and brought the Toreros inside Dayton's 10-yard line. Rogan went on to lead the Toreros in rushing with 130 yards on 27 attempts. Stompro was 12-for-24 in the air for San Diego, throwing for 169 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Eric Fiege led all Toreros with five receptions, totaling 41 yards. The defense was paced by junior DT Paul Tremblay (9 tackles) and FS Jeff Chavez (8 tackles, 2 pass break-ups and 1 interception).

TORERO TIDBITS: The Toreros and visiting Davidson will both be looking to snap current 3-game skids when the two teams line up against each other this Saturday... The last time a USD team dropped three straight was during the 1998 campaign when the Toreros closed out the season with five losses in their 2-8 season... This past weekend JT Rogan posted his first 100-yard rushing performance of the 2009 campagin with his 130 yard game against the Dayton Flyers... It was his 16th career game reaching 100 or more yards in a game and his best performance since his 154 yard outing against Morehead State on November 10, 2007... His career best also came against the Dayton Flyers back in 2005 when he totaled 180 yards and 3 touchdowns... This season Rogan ranks in the FCS Top-25 in two statistical categories: 23rd in all-purpose yards (130.8 yards per game) and 28th in kickoff returns (24.65 ave.)... Kyle Negrete continues to be one of the nation's best punters - he is tops in the PFL and 13th nationally with his 41.24 average... Sophomore Eric Fiege ranks 27th in the FCS in punt returns (8.50 ave.)... Among FCS team statistics, USD ranks 21st in pass efficiency defense (107.94 rating), 29th in passing defense (171.25 yards pg), 30th in net punting (34.88), 33rd in scoring defense (20.13) and 45th in pass efficiency offense (129.35 rating)... Other Torero leaders include WR John McGough (32 receptions for 485 yards, 5 TDs), RB Matt Jelmini (255 yards, 2 TDs), SS Derek Pilkington (47 stops), LB Derek Marten (43 stops), LB Loka Kanongataa (39 tackles, 5 QB hurries), DT Paul Tremblay (32 tackles) and CB Al-Rilwan Adeyemi (2 interceptions).

SCOUTING THE DAVIDSON WILDCATS: Like USD, the Davidson Wildcats (2-6, 2-4 PFL) come to town looking to snap a 3-game losing streak... This past weekend they gave first place Butler a game but came up short, 14-7... The Wildcats knotted the score at 7-all early in the 3rd period, but Butler stayed undefeated on the year when QB Andrew Huck scored on a 1-yard run with 4:09 to go... RB Kenny Mantuo had a big day as he rushed 19 times for 147 yards and 1 score (9-yards)... Punter Andrew Wohler was busy as he punted 7 times for a 42.6 average... OLB Patrick Hunt paced the defense with 11 tackles (6 solo)... Davidson's two PFL wins have come against Campbell (24-7) and Morehead State (16-10)... Season leaders for the Wildcats include Mantuo (556 yards rushing, 4 TDs), QB Michael Blanchard (341 yards rushing, 4 TDs; 70-142 passing for 714 yards, 2 TDs), WR Mark Hanabury (28-271 yards, 1 TD), LB Daniel Astrop (55 tackles, 2 forced fumbles), LB Tyler Lemons (51 stops) and LB Patrick Hunt (51 tackles)... Head Coach Tripp Merritt is in his fifth season and owns a record of 22-27... He returns 41 lettermen and 14 starters from last year's 4-7 club (3-5 PFL).

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK: The Toreros play their final road game of the year at Morehead State on Nov. 14th before closing out the 2009 campaign at home with Southern Utah on November 21st (6 pm).