Nov. 19, 2009
GAME #11: The USD Toreros (4-6) close out their 2009 campaign this Saturday with a non-conference tilt against scholarship program Southern Utah University (4-6). Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Torero Stadium.
SERIES RECORD: This is the first meeting between the Toreros and Thunderbirds.
RADIO/INTERNET/VIDEO: Saturday's contest will air live on San Diego 1700 AM with Jack Cronin (play-by-play) calling the action. USD wishes to extend a warm welcome back to the booth by John Kentera (color analyst) who has been out since early October after he suffered a heart attack. Pre-game will begin at 5:40 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.
SENIOR TRIBUTE: It is a Torero tradition to pay tribute to seniors playing in their final home games. In a pregame ceremony USD will acknowledge the following seniors: OL Patrick Calahan (Mission Viejo, CA), DT Nick Coppedge (Santee, CA), PK James Cullen (Burbank, CA), WR Sean Cullina (Bonita, CA), SS Gabriel Derricks* (Oak Park, CA), DE Kevin Dunn* (Santa Barbara, CA), DE Hanner Hart (Fort Hall, ID), DB Derron Juarez (Granada Hills, CA), OL Kyle Kofoed (Rancho Cordova, CA), OL Nick Kostielney (Hollister, CA), LB Derek Marten (Clovis, CA), FS Derek Pilkington (Sterling, CO), RB JT Rogan* (Coronado, CA), OL/LS Conrad Smith* (Long Beach, CA), and DB Chris Wilson (San Leandro, CA). * denotes team captain.
PFL STANDINGS/SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 21st: Butler (6-1 PFL; 9-1), Dayton (6-1; 8-2), Drake (6-1; 8-2), Jacksonville (5-2; 6-4), Marist (5-2; 7-3), San Diego (3-5; 4-6), Davidson (3-5; 3-7), Campbell (2-5; 3-7), Morehead State (0-7; 2-8), and Valparaiso (0-7; 1-9). This week's PFL games: Drake at Butler, Marist at Dayton, Morehead State at Valparaiso, Jacksonville at Campbell, Southern Utah at USD. Davidson off.
PFL GRIDIRON CLASSIC SCENARIOS: The regular season's final week arrives with three PFL teams - Butler, Dayton and Drake - still in the hunt for a piece of the PFL championship and a berth in the fourth Gridiron Classic (vs. NEC Champion on Dec. 5th). Three Scenarios: Butler participates in Gridiron Classic with win against Drake; Dayton participates with win over Marist coupled with Drake win over Butler; and Drake participates with win at Butler coupled with Marist beating Dayton.
NEGRETE TABBED PFL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sophomore punter Kyle Negrete (Fresno, CA) was named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the team's 13-7 road victory at Morehead State last weekend. Negrete averaged a PFL single-game best 49.3 yards per punt to help San Diego snap a four-game skid. He punted six times for 296 yards, saw one downed inside the 20-yard line and booted one 65 yards. For the season he ranks 9th in the FCS with his 42.08 average.
TORERO TIDBITS: The Toreros rank in five top-50 FCS statistical areas - 15th in pass efficiency defense (105.83 rating), 22nd in passing defense (165.50), 22nd in net punting (35.40), 33rd in scoring defense (20.2 ppg) and 39th in pass efficiency offense (129.22 rating)... Individuals that rank among the FCS best include Kyle Negrete (9th in punting, 42.08), JT Rogan (30th in all-purpose yards, 125.4; 41st in kickoff returns, 23.43), and Eric Fiege (40th in punt returns, 7.59 ave.)... Additional Torero leaders for the season include Rogan (485 yards rushing, 7 TDs), QB Bo Stompro (41-77 for 577 yards, 3 TDs), WR John McGough (42 catches for 617 yards, 5 TDs), kicker Mike Levine (44 points, 7-8 in field goals), FS Derek Pilkington (68 tackles), LB Derek Marten (58 stops), LB Loka Kanongataa (52 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss), SS Gabe Derricks (47 stops, 1 int.) and DT Paul Tremblay (40 tackles).
ROGAN CLOSES OUT BRILLIANT CAREER: Running back and return specialist JT Rogan (Coronado, CA) closes out his outstanding career today. Heading into his final collegiate contest, Rogan is USD's all-time career leader in nine different statistical categories - total touchdowns (54), points scored (326), rushing yards (3,498), rushing attempts (699), rushing touchdowns (38), kickoff return yards (2,041), kickoff return average (28.0), kickoff return attempts (73) and all-purpose yards (6,598). A two-time team captain, he was tabbed a First Team All-American as a return specialist in 2007 after leading the nation in kickoff returns with his 33.2 average. For his career he had 16 games of 100 or more yards of rushing.
TOREROS GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS WITH 13-7 WIN AT MOREHEAD STATE: Justin Fontenberry connected with Eric Fiege for the 69-yard, go-ahead TD while the defense and special teams proved to be formidable, helping the Toreros defeat the Morehead State Eagles 13-7 last Saturday. The victory in the final road game for USD snapped a four-game losing streak for the Toreros. Fontenberry's TD pass occurred with 9:47 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Eagles had opportunities to regain the lead, but the Toreros stout defense stopped a fourth-down conversion, forced an interception, and stalled MSU's final possession at the end of the game to capture the win. The USD defense forced two turnovers, an interception and fumble, in the game while also registering six sacks, with Mario Kurn leading the way with 2.5. Julian Strickland had 1.5 sacks, adding to his seven tackles in the game. Loka Kanongataa had a team-high eight tackles, including a sack, and a fumble recovery. Overall, USD surrendered 230 yards on defense, only 34 of which were on the ground. The kicking game for the Toreros played a key role in the triumph, as Mike Levine kicked field goals from 26 and 39 yards and Kyle Negrete averaged 49.3 yards over six punts with a long of 65 yards. The victory was also USD's fifth straight over Morehead State in the five all-time contests between the two teams. USD's lone successful drive in the first half was an 11-play, 51-yarder in which Levine kicked a 26-yard field goal to bring the Toreros to a 3-0 advantage with 12:49 remaining. The Eagles did not waste any time answering the USD score, starting with the ensuing kickoff. Winston Brodrick returned the USD kick for 83 yards, allowing the Eagles' drive to start on the USD 15-yard line. Following an incomplete pass on the first play, Zach Lewis connected with Jerrod Pendleton for a 15-yard touchdown, placing Morehead State in the lead, 7-3 with 12:17 remaining. USD would go on to outscore Morehead State 10-0 in the second half as Levine converted the second of his two field goals in the third quarter and the Fontenberry-Fiege connection helped seal the win in the fourth. Gabe Derricks prevented a potential Morehead State score as the Eagles were driving deep into USD territory before Derricks forced a fumble at the USD 6 in the final minute of the third quarter. Quarterback Bo Stompro, using the short-yardage, high completion-percentage passing game, was 13-for-15 in passing for the Toreros in the first half, with his two failed pass attempts being interceptions. He would go on to finish the game 19-for-25 with 191 yards passing. Phil Morelli led the Toreros with 63 rushing yards on 14 attempts. John McGough hauled in 7 receptions for 72 yards while Fiege had 5 receptions for 90 yards and the lone USD touchdown.
SCOUTING THE SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS: Southern Utah is under the direction of head coach Ed Lamb (2nd year)... Prior to SUU Lamb was an assistant coach with the Toreros for three seasons (2005-2007)... This season the Thunderbirds are 4-6 overall and still searching for their first road win... Following a convincing 56-35 win over UC Davis on October 31st, SUU has dropped its last two games to South Dakota (45-21) and Eastern Washington (41-28)... SUU leaders include RB Austin Minefee (462 yards), RB Major Gray (438 yards, 7 TDs), QB Cade Cooper (254-392 for 2,715 yards & 28 TDs), WR Tysson Poots (75 for 932 yards, 13 TDs), WR Fes Sitake (72 catches for 765 yards, 7 TDs), LB Rob Takeno (86 stops), CB Colin Pretlow (73 tackles, 3 interceptions) and CB Erron Vonner (65 stops)... SUU returns 38 lettermen and 16 starters from last year's 4-7 ball club.
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