USD Football 1998

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The offensive line will be anchored by the return of three starters -- senior center Matt Hawkins (6-0, 267), jun– ior tackle Kona Nakanelua (6-1, 300) and sophomore guard Joel Gonzalez (6-3, 305). They will try to open up some running lanes for sophomore tailbacks Joe Hampton (556 yards, 4 TDs) and Oscar Arzu, and junior full– back David Lembo. Like the offense, the Torero defense will be solid again with seven starters back for first-year defensive coordina– tor Brian Murphy. Starters back that will be the core of the Torero defense include defensive end Lukas Smart (6-2, 235); senior linebackers Kevin Hawes (6-2, 240), Kerry Peoples (5- 10, 210) and Tennyson Tom (5-10, 210); senior invert Travis Dellinger (76 tackles); junior corner back Kaeo Gouveia (66 tackles, 5 int.); and free safety Wade Van Dusen, the team's time returning balls on special teams include Dylan Ching (22.5 yards per kickoff return; 8.5 punt returns) and Khalid Maxie (6.0 punt returns). Com– petition for the kicking/punting duties were going to be tested by a handful of returners and newcomers. USD's nonconference road sched– ule will be highlighted by its Sept. 12th trip to Staten Island, New York where they will take on Wagner College. Their nonconference home schedule will be highlighed by newcomers Central Con– necticut (Oct. 3rd) and Fairfield (Oct. 17th). The Toreros play a six-game home schedule for the second consecu– tive year and will also host Azusa Pa– cific University (Sept. 5), University of Redlands (Sept. 19), Valparaiso Uni– versity (Oct. 31) and the University Dayton in its season final on Novem– ber 14th.

'98 Toreros ... Older & More Experienced With its 8-3 overall mark in 1997, the USD Toreros and third-year head coach Kevin McGarry are com– ing off of its best showing since mov– ing to the NCAA Division I-AA ranks and the Pioneer Football League in 1993. The '97 USD club became only the fourth Torero squad to achieve at least 8 wins in 35 years of football, and it was the program's most victories since the 1981 season. Additionally, USD finished second in the Pioneer Football League (4-1 ), also its best mark. The '98 Toreros return fourteen starters (7 offense; 7 defense) and ap– proximately fifty players from last year's team. Additionally, the Torero All-PFL punter and kicker; Buddy Brown, a First Team All-PFL defen– sive lineman; Chris Del Santo, the team's third leading receiver; and Kujanga Jackson, the team's leading tackler at the safety position. The '98 offense will be spear– headed by junior quarterback Mike Stadler, a First Team All-PFL per– former who directed USD to 33.6 points a game last season. He smashed the USD single season mark for touch– down passes with 30, finishing 152-of- 262 for 2,287 yards and 30 scores. As good as he was all year, his game rose a notch in PFL contests where he com– pleted 74 percent of his passes and threw for 20 scores; three times pass– ing for a school-record 5 touchdowns. Junior Dylan Ching, a First Team per– former at receiver, returns as Stadler's favorite longball target -- he pulled in 48 balls for 915 yards and a school– best 12 touchdowns in '97.

staff has brought in just over seventy newcomers that will help solidify the squad. Although USD will be a little older and a little more experienced, they will still have to replace a senior class that included Tim Roth, a First Team

top returning tackler (83). Other returners expected to play key roles include senior defensive lineman Mike Hartshorne, a 1997 PFLAll-Academic selection; senior defensive lineman Dan Hamann (5-10, 265); and junior CB Kris Eggert (5-11, 190). Returning players expected to see