Monday, November 7, 2005

THE WEEK'S OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
USD WR Adam Hannula: 6 receptions for 101 yards, TD
DRA QB Connor Jostes: 11-of-19 passing for 217 yards, 2 TDs
MSU RB Eli Parkes: 15 carries for 124 yards, 2 TDs, 1 reception for 7 yards, TD and two-point conversion
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 11-for-16 passing for 179 yards, 2 TDs
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 22 carries for 175 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE
BUT LB Dale Murzyn: 8 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, fumble recover and pass breakup
VAL LB Brandon Sturman: 10 tackles (5 solo)
USD LB Jared Forrester: 9 tackles (2 solo), 3.0 TFL

SPECIAL TEAMS
BUT P Phil Buchanan: 4 punts for 173 yards (43.3 ypp)
VAL K Andrew McCawley: 3-3 PATs, 25-yard FG
DAY P Derek Hall: 3 punts for 124 yards (41.3 ypp), one inside-20
USD K Hutch Parker: 7-7 PATs, 25-yard FG
MSU K Adam Jones: 6-6 PATs, 2 FGs (48, 47), 10 kickoffs (five touchbacks)
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PFL WEEKLY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points Scored, 20 by Eli Parkes (MSU)
Total Offense, 272 yds by Josh Johnson (USD)
Rushing Yardage, 227 yds by Jeff Horton (VAL)
Passing Yardage, 255 yds by Josh Johnson (USD)
Receiving Yardage, 129 yds by Ryan Wrobleski (DAY)
All-Purpose Yardage, 292 yds by Jeff Horton (VAL)
Punting Average (min. 5 punts), 47.4 ypp by Ryan Horvath (DRA)
Interceptions, 2 by Casey Klaus (DAY)
Tackles, 11.0 by Josh Hackett (APSU), John Hoppe (DAY) and Kwesi Williams (MSU)
Sacks, 2.0 by Dale Murzyn (BUT)
Tackles for Loss, 3.0 by Dale Murzyn (BUT)
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NATIONAL STATISTICAL TOP 10s
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 7th in passing efficiency (164.39)
DAY DB Casey Klaus: 5th in interceptions (0.60 int/pg)
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 2nd, in rushing (150.78 ypg), 7th in all-purpose yardage (157.33 ypg)
MSU WR David Hyland: 10th in interceptions (0.50 int/pg)
MSU RS Nick Feldman: 3rd in punt returns (18.96 ypr)
USD QB Josh Johnson: 5th in passing efficiency (169.81)
VAL RB Jeff Horton: 5th in all-purpose yardage (159.10 ypg)

DAYTON TEAM [5]: 3rd in scoring offense (40.30 ppg); 6th in rushing offense (259.40 ypg), 4th in total offense (470.70 ypg); 5th in scoring defense (14.10 ppg); 8th in pass efficiency (163.13).
JACKSONVILLE TEAM [1]: 10th in rushing offense (236.86 ypg)
DRAKE TEAM [3]: 7th in rushing offense (252.22 ypg), 9th in net punting (36.78 nypg); 9th in scoring offense (37.00 ppg)
MOREHEAD STATE TEAM [2]: 5th in rushing offense (261.50 ypg), 4th in punt returns (16.44 ypg),
SAN DIEGO TEAM [8]: 1st in scoring offense (42.20 ppg); 2nd in total offense (479.50 ypg); 3rd in scoring defense (13.00 papg); 4th in pass efficiency defense (91.63); 5th in total defense (253.80 yapg); 6th in pass efficiency (167.00); 7th in pass defense (140.60 yapg); 10th in kickoff returns (22.88 ypg)
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2005 PFL CHAMPIONSHIP: The final PFL Championship is set with PFL North champion San Diego hosting PFL South Champion Morehead State, Nov. 19. The championship kickoff time will be determined at a later time. 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.

SAN DIEGO RECEIVING NATIONAL ACCLAIM: The Toreros are starting to attract attention on a national scale, receiving votes in both the USA Today I-AA College Coaches poll and The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 poll. USD received nine points (40th) in the USA Today Poll and 29 points (35th) in the Sports Network poll. Last week, San Diego was ranked 42nd in I-AA.org's Gridiron Power Index.

SAN DIEGO CLAIMS PFL NORTH CROWN: San Diego clinched its first-ever solo PFL North title with an undefeated run through divisional play. It is their second PFL North title, they shared the 2003 championship with Valparaiso. The Toreros will attempt to claim their first-ever PFL Championship when they host the PFL Championship, Nov. 19.

MOREHEAD STATE WINS FOURTH-STRAIGHT PFL SOUTH TITLE: Morehead State will make its fourth consecutive PFL Championship appearance after posting an unbeaten mark in PFL South divisional action. The Eagles are winless in their previous three tries in the PFL Championship, but will look to end that streak, Nov. 19, at San Diego.

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.

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.

MOREHEAD STATE PASSES COME-FROM-BEHIND TEST: Morehead State matched the largest comeback in school history during its 56-55 victory at Missouri-Rolla, Nov. 5. The Eagles trailed the Miners 35-3 with 13:25 remaining in the first quarter. In 1986, MSU trailed Wichita State 35-6 at halftime before winning, 36-35.

EAGLES SOAR ON THE ROAD: Morehead State remains unbeaten on the road, posting a 5-0 mark. However, that streak will be tough to maintain when the Eagles travel to No. 11/10 Georgia Southern, Saturday.

PICK HAPPY DAVIDSON ON DEFENSE: Davidson had the week off and dropped out of the top spot nationally in passes intercepted. The Wildcats' 18 interceptions are second most in I-AA behind Wagner (19). Davidson also ranks among the I-AA top 20 in turnover margin, with a +0.78 turnover margin per game, tied for 16th best in I-AA.

SAN DIEGO AND THE SPORTS NETWORK POLL: For the fourth straight week, San Diego remains in the top spot of the Sports Network Mid-Major poll, their first appearance in the top spot in poll history. The Toreros knocked off previous No. 1 Dayton, Oct. 15, and picked up all 26 first-place votes. USD was No. 2 in the poll the previous five weeks.

DAYTON AND THE SPORTS NETWORK POLL: Dayton, meanwhile, remains ranked No. 2 this week in the Sports Network Mid-Major poll . The move downward ended 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 54 of a possible 63 weeks the Sports Network poll has been in existence.

FG TRIFECTA: Kickers are getting a toehold in the PFL this season, with 54-of-88 (.614) 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)

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:
�by 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 finished its 2005 campaign with a 41-7 victory at Davidson running its streak of games without being shutout to 330. The Flyers were last shut out, Oct. 16, 1976, a 9-0 loss to Marshall.

CARTWRIGHT NOT RETAINED AT BUTLER: Butler announced that Kit Cartwright will not be retained as head football coach following the 2005 season. Cartwright will coach Butler's remaining games against Dayton and Missouri-Rolla.

DAYTON AWARDS CHARACTER: Dayton backup quarterback Robert Dence was named the winner of the school's Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy at halftime of its Oct. 23 game against Valparaiso. In its 50th season, the award is a character-driven honor that is the most meaningful award for the Flyer football program.

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.
by 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.
by 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.
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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.