USD Football 1997

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1997 USD Football Profile

The University of San Diego football program heads into its fifth season at the NCAA Division I-AA level and as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). Head coach Kevin McGarry, entering his 2nd year at the helm of the Torero program, returns approximately fifty-five players and ten start– ers from last year's 4-6 club that finished 1-4 in the PFL. Sev– enty newcomers boost the roster total close to 125. The Toreros will return four offensive starters, five defensive starters and All-PFL kicker Tim Roth on special teams. Offensive starters back include OL Matt Hawkins (6-0, 255, Jr.); FB Jared Keo (5-9, 220, Sr.), TE Frank Brown (6-3, 220, Sr.); and WR Dylan Ching (5-11, 195 , So.), a 2nd Team All-PFL pick a year ago after leading the team with 24 catches for 550 yards and 6 touchdowns. Key returning players expected to compete for starting assign– ments in '97 include QB Matt Doherty (6-3, 180, Sr.), who is John Khamis' projected replacement; and WR

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\.i~~!!!~~.!:,::.;;;;..~CCh~ris Del Santo (6-3, 215, Sr.), second on the team with 15 receptions. TE Randy Weber (6-1, 220, So.) and QB Mike Stadler (6-2, 195, So.) will both push for playing time at their respective positions. The defense, which returns five starters, should be strong on the line and in the secondary. Starters back include DL Lukas Smart (6-1, 227, Jr.; 36 tackles & 6 sacks); DL Buddy Brown (5-10, 250, Sr.; 2nd Team All-PFL); DL D.J. Walcott (6-2, 265, Jr.); DB Travis Dellinger (6-0, 195, Jr.), third on the team with 55 tackles; and CB Elton Perkins (5-7, 162, Jr.) . The defense will get an immediate boost from the return of DB Sal Navarro (5- 11 , 185, Jr.), a '95 First Team All-PFL performer who sat out last season to concentrate on studies. Others expected to make key contributions include DB Brian McLoughlin (5-10, 195, Jr.; 46 tackles), DB Kaeo Gouveia (5-8, 160, So.), LB Andre Lee (6-1, 238, Sr.), and LB Kevin Hawes (6-2, 228, Sr.). Senior Tim Roth (6-2, 190, Sr.) will pace the special teams unit after being named First Team All-PFL a year ago and finishing second on the team in points with 43 (8x l2 FGs; 19x24 PATs). He will also compete for the open punter 's spot left vacant by gradu–

ated and PFL 1st-teamer Mike Buhler. Look for senior Elton Perkins and sophomore Kaeo Gouveia to step in for graduated seniors Jeb Dougherty and Evan Hlavacek and handle most of the return duties . The Toreros, who play their first ever 11-game · schedule at the I-AA level, open the 1997 season with three straight nonconference home games (Azusa Pa- cific, Saint Mary's and Redlands). They

complete the month of September with a road tilt at Cal Lutheran on the 27th, followed by five straight PFL contests from October 4th through November 1st. USD will then finish out their regular– season schedule with a road contest at Whittier (Nov. 8th) and with their home– coming game versus Wagner College

1996 PFL STANDINGS

Overall

PFL

Team Dayton Drake Evansville Butler San Diego Valparaiso

11-0-0

5-0 4-1 2-3 2-3 1-4 1-4

8-3-0 5-5-0 3-7-0 4-6-0 4-6-0

(Staten Island, NY) on the 15th.