USD Football 1999

Season Outlook

2 TOREROS LOOK TO GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS IN 1999 With fifty-four returning players and sixteen starters back from last year's 2-8 club, fourth year coach Kevin McGarry is optimistic that the Toreros wi ll get back to their winning ways in 1999. Hit with a rash of season– ending injuries, the '98 Toreros were forced to play a number of freshmen and sophomores throughout the season; game-day playing experience that will only benefit this year's club. "We think we have a great nucleus of players returning," said coach Kevin McGarry. "We have a lot of hard workers who believe in them– selves, and our senior leadership is excellent."

Headlining the Torero offense will be the return of two First Team All– Pioneer Football League performers in senior QB Mike Stadler (47 TD passes over the past two seasons) and senior WR Dylan Ching (135 career receptions for 2,380 yards and 30 TOs) . Last season Stadler led the PFL in total offense (212.7 ypg) while finishing with passing numbers of 158- for-311 for 2,031 yards and 17 TOs. His favorite target was Ching who hauled in 63 passes for 915 yards and 12 scores. Ching led the PFL in receptions per game (6.30), receiving yards per game (91.50), scoring (7.40 ptpg) and all-purpose running (132.20 ypg). In addition to Ching, Stadler will have quality targets in wideouts Bobby Doherty (23 for 256 yards, 2 TD) and Khalid Maxie (13 for 155 yds), sophomore TE Matt Guardia, and a host of outstanding newcomers. The Torero running attack will be spearheaded by the return of junior tailback Oscar Arzu (628 yards, 2 TD), along with FB David Lembo, who sat out last season with a knee injury. Pass protection and running lanes for the Torero offense will come from its offensive line which returns OG Aaron Garrison, a 1997 2nd Team All-PFL selection who sat out last year with a knee injury; senior OG Kona Nakanelua (6-1, 300), center Sean McCarney (6-1, 265), and junior tackles Christos Renner (6-2, 263) and Chris Lamb (6-4, 285). The Torero defense, which returns seven starters, will be paced by its secondary. Leading the way will senior CB Kaeo Gouveia, a First Team All-PFL performer last year after tallying 42 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions and 7 pass break-ups. He enters his senior campaign with 10 career interceptions and needs just 2 this year to set a new USD defensive record. He is joined by junior safety Kyle Slusser, the team's top tackler with 85 stops and 6 interceptions; senior safety Wade Van Dusen (44 tackles), and sophomore invert Brian Luman, who totaled 22 tackles and 4 interceptions in just six starts. The defense will also be bolstered by the return of sophomore LB Bryan Baxter (72 tackles, 4 QB sacks), junior DT Anthony Banovac (6-1, 260) and junior DT Vaheh Keshishian (5-11, 265), who was the recipient of the team's 1998 Strength Coaches Award. The return portion of special teams should be in good hands with Dylan

Ching, Khalid Maxie and Oscar Arzu all returning. Ching averaged 24.6 yards on kickoff returns and 8.0 yds for punts; Maxie 20.3 and 12.8 in the same categories; and Arzu returned 15 kickoffs for a 20.6 average. The kicking game, which was a Torero weakness in '98, should be improved with some quality recruits. USO's 7-game home schedule should work in the Toreros advantage. Highlighting the home slate is their October 2nd meeting with the Yale Bulldogs of the Ivy League. "USO vs. Yale in football represents a milestone for our program and for the university," said Tom Iannacone, USD Director of Athletics. USO's other home tilts include Whittier (Sept. 11), Cal Lutheran (Sept. 18), PFL opponents Butler (Oct. 16) and Drake (Oct. 30), and finishing up with Stony Brook (Nov. 6) and Wagner (Nov. 13; Homecoming). "We're happy to be playing in front of our fans and travelling less this year," added head coach Kevin McGarry. "We're excited about Yale coming to town. It is definitely the direction we want our program going in." USO opens the 1999 season on the road at Azusa Pacific, the 1998 NAIA National Champions; with the ir two other road games set for Dayton (Oct. 9) and Valparai so (Oct. 23).