Monday, October 17, 2005

THE WEEK's OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
JAX QB Chris Horton: 6-of-10 for 66 yards, TD and 12 carries for 92 yards, TD, all in second half off bench
MSU QB Brian Yost: 16-of-21 for 258 yards, 2 TD and 10 carries for 78 yards, 2 TDs
DAY WR Ryan Wrobleski: 6 receptions for 90 yards, 1 carry for 10 yards
VAL RB Jeff Horton: school record 41 carries for 212 yards and 2 TDs, also 2 receipts for 16 yards, TD, finished with 331 all-purpose yards

DEFENSE
JAX LB Brandon Torre: 8 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, incl. one sack, and two pass break-ups
BUT DB Chris Haynes: 17 tackles (7 solo), incl. TFL
DAY LB Brian Kelly: 15 tackles, incl. team's only TFL
VAL DE James Riker: 9 tackles (6 solo), 2 TFL
DAV LB Alex Arinsmier: 16 tackles (11 solo), 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

SPECIAL TEAMS
DAY K Josh Heyne: 3-3 PATs, 48-yard long FG, limited opp. to three touchbacks and 19.0 ypr on kickoffs
VAL PK Andrew McCawley: 2-2 FGs (40, 42 yds) and 4-4 PATs
USD P George Villa: 5 punts for 236 yards (47.2 ypp), 4 inside-20, 59-yard long

PFL WEEKLY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points Scored: 24, JT Rogan (USD)
Total Offense: 341 yds, Josh Johnson (USD)
Rushing Yardage: 212 yds, Jeff Horton (VAL)
Passing Yardage: 258 yds, Brian Yost (MSU)
Receiving Yardage: 102 yds, Nick Garton (USD)
All-Purpose Yardage: 331 yds, Jeff Horton (VAL)
Punting Average (min. 5 punts): 47.2 ypp, George Villa (USD)
Interceptions: 1, by several players
Tackles: 17.0, Chris Haynes (BUT)
Sacks: 2.0, James Riker (VAL)
Tackles for Loss: 4.0, Kyson Hawkins (USD)

NATIONAL STATISTICAL TOP 10s
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 5th in passing efficiency (165.57)
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 3rd in rushing (132.67 ypg)
MSU RS Nick Feldman: 3rd in punt returns (17.52 ypr)
USD QB Josh Johnson: 8th in passing efficiency (155.14)
VAL RB Jeff Horton: 10th in all-purpose yardage (150.86 ypg)

DAYTON TEAM [5]: 6th pass defense (133.1 yapg); 4th in pass efficiency (166.50); 9th in scoring offense (37.86 ppg); 8th in total offense (460.14 ypg); 9th in rushing offense (245.00 ypg).
DAVIDSON TEAM [1]: 6th in turnover margin (+1.43 topg).
MOREHEAD STATE TEAM [1]: 5th in rushing offense (270.14 ypg).
SAN DIEGO TEAM [7]: 3rd in scoring defense (10.14 papg); 4th in pass efficiency defense (90.48); 5th in total defense (240.14 yapg); 5th in total offense (466.86 ypg); 6th in rushing defense (80.29 yapg); 7th in scoring offense (38.29 ppg); 10th in pass efficiency (154.36).

SAN DIEGO'S FATE IN ITS OWN HANDS: San Diego remained unbeaten in PFL North play and secured the division's top spot with a convincing 48-24 victory at Dayton, Saturday. With the victory, the Toreros control their own destiny, especially with preseason favorite Drake visiting this week. The Bulldogs will attempt to both play spoiler and keep their own hopes of a PFL championship berth alive with a victory. However, neither team should consider the rest of the way a foregone conclusion with two weeks remaining in the PFL North race after this weekend's play.

MOREHEAD STATE'S FATE IN ITS OWN HANDS: Meanwhile, the PFL South picture is clearer today with Morehead State posting a 2-0 mark with one game remaining. The Eagles host the only threat to their fourth-straight PFL Championship appearance when Davidson visits, Saturday. A MSU victory ends all discussion while a Wildcats' win keeps hope alive for both Davidson and Jacksonville, which visits Austin Peay.

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PFL TIEBREAKER, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK: The PFL's division tiebreaker remains unchanged for the 2005 season and will be used in case either or both of the divisional races end in ties. If the tie is between two teams only, then the head-to-head match up will determined the division's representative to the PFL Championship. If a three-team tie exists, then another tiebreaker system will be used. That process, with both divisional situations explained, may be found here (link: tiebreakers explained).

2005 PFL CHAMPIONSHIP: The 2005 PFL Championship will be hosted by the PFL North champion, Nov. 19. 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 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ENDS AFTER 2005: With the 2006 change in regular-season scheduling, the PFL Championship will be discontinued after this season's championship game hosted by the PFL North champion, Nov. 19.

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 office announced, Sept. 7. 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 and three home/four road.

PICK HAPPY DAVIDSON ON DEFENSE: Davidson's did not nab an interception against Morehead State, Saturday, but remains I-AAs top INT threat. The Wildcats have picked off 17 passes this season, one more than second-place Wagner. Davidson also ranks among the I-AA top ten in turnover margin, with a +1.43 turnover margin per game, sixth best in I-AA.

FG TRIFECTA: Kickers are getting a toehold in the PFL this season, with 43-of-67 (.642) field goal attempts being made this season. In fact, four PFL kickers have recorded three field goals in a contest this season and one _ San Diego's Hutch Parker _ has hit three in a game twice this season. The list of three-goal kickers:
� Hutch Parker (USD) vs Azusa Pacific, Sept. 3 (4 attempts)
� Bradley Wilson (APSU) vs Cumberland, Sept. 10 (4 attempts)
� Brad Smith (DAV) vs Lenoir-Rhyne, Sept. 17 (4 attempts)
� Hutch Parker (USD) vs Yale, Sept. 17 (4 attempts)
� Adam Jones (MSU) vs. Butler, Oct. 1 (3 attempts)

SAN DIEGO'S DEFENSE STINGY IN 2ND HALF: Whatever is said to the Torero defense during halftime doesn't stay there, it makes its way on to the field. The USD defense has allowed just one touchdown after the break this season, even limiting the potent Dayton offense powerless on its own field, Saturday. The lone second-half score allowed by USD this season was to Butler backup quarterback T.J. Brown who completed a 14-yard pass for a touchdown.

SAN DIEGO AND THE SPORTS NETWORK POLL: San Diego moves into the top spot of the Sports Network Mid-Major poll for the first time in poll history. The Toreros knocked off previous No. 1 Dayton, Saturday, and picked up all 28 first-place votes. USD was No. 2 in the poll the previous five weeks.

DAYTON AND THE SPORTS NETWORK POLL: Dayton, meanwhile, lost just one spot in the Sports Network Mid-Major poll and is ranked No. 2 this week. The move downward ends Dayton's six-week reign as the mid-majors top team. The Flyers have been ranked either first or second in the Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major poll for 52 of a possible 61 weeks the Sports Network poll has been in existence.

PFL DEFENSES MAKE STAND: PFL teams combined to force 20 turnovers, Oct. 1, with eight fumbles lost and 12 interceptions in the five games on the league slate. More impressive were the four turnovers returned for touchdowns:
� John Hoppe (DAY) 47-yard INT return vs. Jacksonville
� Randell Odell (APSU) 57-yard INT return vs. Valparaiso
� Philip Bretsch (USD) 28-yard INT return vs. Menlo
� Brian Conway (DRA) 29-yard fumble recovery vs. Davidson

DAYTON EXTENDS STREAK: Dayton lost to San Diego, Saturday, but scored 12 first-half points to extend its streak of games without being shutout to 327. The Flyers were last shut out, Oct. 16, 1976, a 9-0 loss to Marshall.

NFL CONNECTIONS: San Diego head coach Jim Harbaugh isn't the only person with an NFL connection in the PFL. Davidson sophomore Beaux Jones is the son of former NFL quarterback Bert Jones, who played for the Baltimore Colts from 1973-1981.
Also, former Dallas Cowboy's kicker Billy Cundiff is a Drake alumnus. He was cut prior to the start of the 2005 season, but has three years of experience. Cundiff is in the NFL record books, with seven field goals made in a Monday Night overtime victory at the New York Giants last season.
Dayton's contribution to the NFL resides in Tampa Bay where head coach Jon Gruden, a 1986 graduate, became the second Dayton alumnus to coach a Super Bowl winner (XXXVII). He joined 1953 UD graduate and 1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Noll who won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XII & XIV) as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

CONSTRUCTION MADNESS: Two PFL members are playing away from their friendly confines due to renovations at their on-campus facilities, a third just completed renovations to its facility and another has plans in the works for stadium improvements.
Butler will play its first game this season at the Butler Bowl when it hosts Morehead State this weekend. The Bulldogs opened their season at the University of Indianapolis' Key Stadium due to renovations at the Butler Bowl _ the first time since 1928 that the Bulldogs have played a home-opener away from the Butler Bowl.
Drake will play its entire 2005 home schedule away from 79-year old Drake Stadium which is getting a complete facelift which should be completed in time for the school's internationally-known Drake Relays. Drake will host its four home games at high school campuses in the Des Moines area.
Davidson dedicated the newest additions to its football venue, Richardson Stadium, during a halftime ceremony, Sept. 10. Among the upgraded amenities are expanded stadium seating, new press box, weight room and visitors' locker room.
Dayton, Dayton Public Schools and the Dayton-Montgomery County Port Authority signed an agreement to work together to renovate Welcome Stadium. Thanks to the agreement, the Port Authority was able to acquire $1 million in this fiscal year and potentially another $1 million next year from the State of Ohio. Safety improvements, painting and new seating are scheduled to happen in the program's first phase, with a new FieldTurf playing surface and a new press box to follow.

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: the Pioneer Football League's coaches tabbed Drake and Morehead State to win their respective divisions in the PFL's preseason poll. Drake is picked first for the first time since divisional play began while it is the fourth time in five seasons Morehead State has been chosen as the PFL South winner.

PFL NORTH POLL RESULTS: Drake, the 2004 PFL Champion, received five of the nine possible first-place votes in the PFL North. Dayton and San Diego split the four remaining first-place votes and were picked second and third, respectively. Valparaiso and Butler round out the five-team PFL North, the two teams selected in a fourth-place tie.

PFL SOUTH POLL RESULTS: Morehead State, the three-time PFL North defending champion, received five first-place votes. Second-place Jacksonville picked up three first-place votes while Austin Peay, which was picked third, claimed one first-place vote. Davidson rounds out the four-team PFL South.