Tuesday, November 15, 2005

THE WEEK's OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
BUT QB Ryan Diggins: 28-of-40 for 306 yards, 3 TDs
VAL RB Jeff Horton: 30 carries for 186 yards and 3 receptions for 23 yards, 209 yards total offense
DRA QB Connor Jostes: 7-of-10 for 132 yards, 3 TDs
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 18 carries for 195 yards
MSU FB Jabari McGee: 9 carries for 58 yards, 4 receptions for 65 yards, TD
DAV QB Ryan Alexander: 19-of-27 passing for 165 yards, TD

DEFENSE
BUT CB D'Andre Dowdy: 7 tackles (4 solo), INT, 2 pass breakups
VAL DB Josh Bintzler: 7 tackles, 2 INTs, pass breakup
USD SS Philip Bretsch: 10 tackles (3 solo), INT returned 55 yards
DRA LB Brian Conway: 12 tackles (7 solo), 4 TFLs including a quarterback sack, forced fumble

PFL WEEKLY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points Scored: 24 by John Polk (USD)
Total Offense: 338 yds by Chris Horton (JAX)
Rushing Yardage: 195 yds by Scott Phaydavong (DRA)
Passing Yardage: 307 yds by Josh Johnson (USD) and Chris Horton (JAX)
Receiving Yardage: 103 yds by Michael Jenner (JAX)
All-Purpose Yardage: 209 yds by Jeff Horton (VAL)
Punting Average (min. 5 punts): 45.8 ypp by Joe Blahowicz (VAL)
Interceptions: 2 by Josh Bintzler (VAL)
Tackles: 16.0 by Alex Arinsmier (DAV)
Sacks: 1.5 by Jim Walter (DAV) and Will Funderburg (DAV)
Tackles for Loss: 4.0 by Brian Conway (DRA) and James Riker (VAL)

NATIONAL STATISTICAL TOP 10s
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 7th in passing efficiency (164.39)
DAY DB Casey Klaus: 4th in interceptions (0.60 int/pg)
DAV DB Pat FitzGerald: 8th in interceptions (0.50 int/pg)
DRA QB Connor Jostes: 10th in passing efficiency (159.37)
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 2nd: in rushing (155.20 ypg), 7th in all-purpose yardage (162.00 ypg)
MSU RS Nick Feldman: 2nd in punt returns (18.96 ypr)
USD QB Josh Johnson: 6th in passing efficiency (168.95)
VAL RB Jeff Horton: 6th in all-purpose yardage (163.64 ypg), 7th in rushing (123.45)

DAYTON TEAM [5]: 4th in scoring offense (40.30 ppg); 4th in scoring defense (14.10 ppg); 5th in rushing offense (259.40 ypg), 5th in total offense (470.70 ypg); 8th in pass efficiency (163.13).
DRAKE TEAM [3]: 6th in rushing offense (257.20 ypg), 7th in net punting (36.75 nypg); 10th in scoring offense (37.60 ppg).
MOREHEAD STATE TEAM [2]: 3rd in punt returns (16.44 ypg) and 8th in rushing offense (248.64 ypg).
SAN DIEGO TEAM [8]: 2nd in scoring offense (42.18 ppg); 2nd in total offense (479.00 ypg); 4th in pass efficiency defense (95.87); 5th in scoring defense (15.00 papg);5th in total defense (266.27 yapg); 7th in pass efficiency (166.03); 7th in pass defense (146.09 yapg); 9th in passing offense (288.00 ypg).

2005 PFL CHAMPIONSHIP: The 5th _ and final _ PFL Championship is set for a 4 p.m., Nov. 19 kickoff with PFL North champion San Diego hosting PFL South champion Morehead State. Both teams will attempt to grab their first conference title. San Diego has history on its side as the PFL North is undefeated in the four previous championship games.

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. Now, the Toreros will attempt to claim their first-ever PFL Championship when they host this season's title game.

MOREHEAD STATE WINS FOURTH-STRAIGHT PFL SOUTH TITLE: Morehead State makes 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 streakthis season in San Diego.

PFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ENDS AFTER 2005: With the 2006 change in regular-season scheduling (see below), the PFL Championship will be discontinued after this season's championship game.

SAN DIEGO RECEIVING NATIONAL ACCLAIM: The Toreros are attracting 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 16 points (31st) in the USA Today Poll and 36 points (32nd) in the Sports Network poll. This week, San Diego is ranked 45th in I-AA.org's Gridiron Power Index.

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 finished their regular season with 19 interceptions, which is tied for second most in I-AA behind Wagner (21). Davidson also ranks among I-AA's top 20 in turnover margin, with a +0.90 turnover margin per game, tied for 12th best in I-AA.

SAN DIEGO AND THE SPORTS NETWORK POLL: For the fifth straight week, San Diego remains in the top spot of the Sports Network Mid-Major poll, extending their first appearance in poll's top spot. 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 55 of a possible 64 weeks the Sports Network poll has been in existence.

FG TRIFECTA: Kickers made an impact in the PFL this season, making 60-of-96 (.625) field goal attempts this season. In fact, four PFL kickers 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 these 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, Nov. 5, 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.

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.
by
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.