Nov. 10, 2009
GAME #10: The USD Toreros (3-6; 2-5 pfl) will look to snap their current four-game losing streak this Saturday, November 14th, when they play at Morehead State (2-7; 0-6 pfl). Kickoff is slated for 10:00 a.m. (PT) at Jayne Stadium.
SERIES RECORD: This is the 6th meeting between USD and Morehead State with the Toreros owning a perfect 5-0 record against the Eagles... The Toreros won last year's meeting in San Diego by the score of 41-17... USD jumped out to a commanding 35-0 halftime lead and was never threatened... Al-Rilwan Adeyemi returned an interception 37 yards for a TD just 1:17 into the contest... Phil Morelli led the ground attack with 115 yards and 1 TD, and WR John Matthews caught two TD passes from Sebastian Trujillo... The defense was paced by Gabriel Derricks with 6 stops.
RADIO/INTERNET: Saturday's contest will air live on San Diego 1700 AM with Jack Cronin calling the action. Cronin's pre-game will begin at 9:40 am (PT). The contest will also be streamed via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com.
PFL STANDINGS/SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 14th: Butler (6-0 pfl; 9-0), Drake (6-0; 8-1), Dayton (5-1; 7-2), Marist (4-2; 6-3), Jacksonville (4-2; 5-4), Davidson (3-4; 3-6), San Diego (2-5; 3-6), Campbell (1-5; 2-7), Morehead State (0-6; 2-7), and Valparaiso (0-6; 1-8). This week's PFL games: Butler at Jacksonville, Marist at Davidson, San Diego at Morehead State, Campbell at Valparaiso, Dayton at Drake.
TOREROS DROP 34-27 CONTEST TO DAVIDSON (Nov. 7th): The Toreros could not complete their comeback attempt on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Davidson Wildcats by a score of 34-27 at Torero Stadium. The Toreros had the opportunity to even the game with a drive in the final two minutes following the second of JT Rogan's two touchdowns, but the offense turned the ball over on downs after four straight incomplete pass attempts. The loss was the fourth straight for the Toreros (3-6, 2-5), while Davidson (3-6, 2-5) snapped its own three-game losing streak with their first win on the road this season. The USD loss was also their first loss to Davidson since 2000, dropping the all-time record to 5-2 between the two teams in favor of the Toreros. Davidson was the first to score in the game after Peter Kidwell returned an interception thrown by Bo Stompro with 10:04 in the first quarter. The Toreros quickly answered with a five-yard touchdown run by Rogan with 8:50 left in the first. The touchdown was set up by Matt Jelmini's 40 rushing yards during the drive, including a 36-yard scamper that brought the ball to the Davidson 5-yard line. The Toreros placed themselves in the lead with a 34-yard field goal by Mike Levine at the 4 minute mark in the first quarter. The brief advantage was erased, however, by a 6 play, 62-yard Davidson scoring drive capped by a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Kenny Mantuo towards the end of the first quarter. The 55 rushing yards for Davidson during the drive showcased the Wildcats ability to gain yards on the ground against the Torero defense, as they rushed for 282 yards in the game. The Toreros meanwhile finished the game with 115 rushing yards and 332 total yards on offense. Entering halftime, the Wildcats held a 24-17 lead, an advantage in which they never surrendered to the Toreros. Kyle Warren scored the only touchdown for USD in the second quarter, a 42-yard connection between him and Stompro. Following field goals from both teams in the second-half, Davidson scored a touchdown with 7:23 remaining in the fourth quarter as Kenny Mantuo recovered his own fumble in the endzone after receiving a 33-yard pass from Michael Blanchard. The Toreros responded with a 6 play, 60-yard scoring drive highlighted by Rogan's second touchdown, a one-yard rush to bring the score to its final result of 34-27. Rogan led all USD rushers with 46 yards on 13 attempts, adding to his 153 all-purpose yards in the game. Jelmini also chipped in with 45 rushing yards. Stompro finished the day going 10-for-28 in pass attempts with a touchdown and interception. Warren led all receivers with 92 yards over three receptions, including the 42-yard TD.
TORERO TIDBITS: The Toreros head to Morehead, Kentucky in hopes of snapping their current 4-game losing streak... USD ranks in the top-50 in five FCS team categories - 18th in passing defense (162.11), 22nd in pass efficiency defense (107.75 rating), 26th in net punting (34.77), 46th in scoring defense (21.67) and 50th in pass efficiency offense (126.49)... Senior JT Rogan continues to rank among the nation's best in all-purpose running (20th; 133.2 yards per game) and kickoff returns (38th; 24.07 yards per game)... sophomore punter Kyle Negrete ranks 12th in punting (41.15), sophomore Eric Fiege ranks 30th in punt returns (8.36) and senior safety Derek Pilkington ranks 39th in tackles (9.14 per game)... Among PFL teams, USD ranks 2nd in three team statistical departments - kickoff returns (22.9), punting (34.8) and pass defense (162.1)... Rogan ranks first among PFL players in both kickoff returns and all-purpose yardage, while Negrete is first in punting... Redshirt freshman kicker Mike Levine is second in the PFL in field goal percentage (.833; 5-for-6)... Pilkington ranks 3rd in tackles per game (9.1) while sophomore Al-Rilwan Adeyemi is tied for 4th in passes defended (0.89).... Torero leaders include Rogan (53.6 rushing yards per game; 7 TDs; 42 points), QB Bo Stompro (22-52 for 386 yards, 3 TDs), WR John McGough (35 catches for 545 yards, 5 TDs), WR Kyle Warren (9 catches for 276 yards, 5 TDs), Al-Rilwan Adeyemi (2 interceptions), FS Derek Pilkington (64 tackles), LB Derek Marten (54 stops) and LB Loka Kanongataa (44 stops, 5 QB hurries)... Toreros host scholarship program Southern Utah next Saturday (Nov. 21st) at Torero Stadium.
SCOUTING THE MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES: Morehead State had a bye last weekend and will be looking to snap a 6-game losing streak when they put their 2-7 record up against the Toreros on Saturday at Jayne Stadium... The Eagles are 0-6 in PFL play with their last loss coming against Campbell on October 31st (31-22)... MSU totaled 405 yards of offense as QB Zach Lewis completed 28-of-43 passing for 296 yards... Lewis connected with WR Drew Morgan for a 25-yard score with 3:33 left in the game... The Eagles defense stopped the Camels on the ensuing drive, setting up a chance for a game-winning or tying drive, however, Lewis had a pass picked off by CU's Cody Lyons who returned it 45 yards for a TD and game securing score with 1:35 to go... On the season Lewis has come off the bench in 5 games to complete 49-88 passes for 453 yards and 2 TDs... RB Desmond Cox leads the ground attack with 238 yards and 1 TD... WR Ronnie McDermott has 24 receptions for 258 yards and 2 TDs... The defense is paced by LB Wes McDermott (90 tackles)... Head coach Matt Ballard (16th year) owns a career mark of 89-83.
SCUDELLARI LOST FOR SEASON: Red-shirt freshman quarterback Sam Scudellari (Saratoga, CA) will miss the rest of the season after he suffered a fracture to his left fibula (non-displaced) in USD's 34-16 home loss to Jacksonville... Scudellari completed 8-of-22 passes for 172 yards and 1 TD before being replaced by Justin Fontenberry with 8:53 left in the game... Sam started 4 of the 6 games he appeared in this season and finished 67-of-117 (57.3%) for 1,004 yards and 8 TDs... He did not throw an interception and finished with a passer rating of 151.91(2nd in 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).
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