USD Football 2002

2 TOREROS LOOK TO CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL WAYS IN 2002 Seventh year head coach Kevin McGarry returns 54 players and 9 starters from last year's 6-3 club that finished tied for second place in the Pioneer Football League. Despite losing some key players from last year's successful campaign, McGarry believes there is plenty to be excited about with his returning class and excellent group of newcomers. The offense will again be directed by junior QB Eric Rasmussen, a 2001 Honorable Mention All-PFL pick a year ago after completing 147-of-254 passes for 2,035 yards and 15 TDs. He ranked 2nd in the PFL in both passing efficiency and total offense. He will have a solid core ofreceivers to throw to - senior Anthony Valanos; sophomore wideouts Michael Gasperson and Jerome Foster; junior tight ends Jeff Incerty and Kyle O'Connor; and multi-purpose athletes Brent Labarrere and Adam Hannula. Rasmussen will be pushed by junior QB Brian Kirkpatrick, a quality backup with a cannon for an arm who should see playing time this year, and redshirt freshman Adam Hannula. The Toreros' backfield will be led by the senior tandem ofRB Kenneth Villalobos and TB Phillip Thrash. Villalobos earned Offensive Player of the Year honors last season after rushing for a team-best 592 yards and 11 TDs. Thrash placed second on the team with 418 yards rushing. The running back group will also be bolstered by the efforts of senior FB Joseph Tagaloa and sophomore RB Baxter Box. No doubt, the success of USD's running attack will be spearheaded by the return of senior center Justin Dixon, a two-time First Team All-PFL pick. He has been one of the best and most

Season Outlook

consistent offensive linemen in the PFL the past two seasons. Additionally, senior guard Uzman Nazir will join Dixon on the offensive line and provide leadership and be a mainstay of the offensive unit. Others expected to see action include sophomore returners Jason Kehrer (6- 3, 229, left tackle) and Keith Zapalac ( 6-4, 255, right tackle), and transfers Ariel Bellofiore ( 6-1, 341, Idaho, left guard) and Matt Shubert (6-5, 276, Sacramento State, right tackle). The defense was hardest hit by graduating seniors, but like the offense, has enough key starters and returners back to again be a stingy unit for its opponents. The 2001 Torero defense ranked 14th in the nation in rushing defense. Leading the way will be junior LB Andy Guzenski, a 200 I Honorable Mention All-PFL pick after leading the team in tackles with 59 stops. He will be joined in the middle by senior linebacker Michael DiPasquale -- they will be pushed by senior Michael Zimmerman and sophomore Jeffrey Langdon. The defensive line unit will be in good hands with a quality group of returners -- senior tackle Josh Noga (5-11, 281 ), senior Michael Tabata (6-1, 208), junior end Chris Conroy (6-2, 237), junior NG Kevin Reade (6-1, 267), and sophomores Ashur Benjamin (6-1, 242) and Daniel Howard (6-4, 237). Howard tied a USD single-game record against Wagner in the team's season final after being credited with three quarterback sacks. Transfer Greg Erlbaum (6-3, 283), who joined the Toreros last spring, will compete for one of the starting spots at tackle. Look for senior veteran Wesley Morgan and junior Gavin Ng to get the starting nods at comer back where the Toreros expect to be very strong. The rest of the secondary slots wi II be competed for by some quality returners who have been waiting in the wings -- junior

Adam Combs (4th on team in tackles with 52) and senior Marvin Banks are back at invert; senior Tim Duerr and junior Bryan Newbrough will battle it out for the starting nod at free safety; and junior Kyle Fitzgerald and sophomore Paul Kumer are the leading candidates for rover. The special teams unit will be led by junior return specialist Gavin Ng, a 2002 Pre– Season All-America Candidate (The Sports Network). Last year Ng averaged 36.9 yards on kickoff returns and 9.4 yards on punt returns . Look for Baxter Box and Joseph Tagaloa to also get a chance to make some returns in 2002. The Toreros have a trio of quality kickers that wi II be competing to replace graduated senior Dylan Mora, a 2001 All-America punter and the team's top kicker a year ago. Returners Brent Labarrere and Rafael Ocampo are back, and will be pushed by transfer Adam Will– PFL COACHES' POLL North iams (Saddleback JC). The Toreros will be embarking on one of their toughest schedules y~t since joining the I-AA ranks back in 1993.

South Jacksonville (6) ... 12 Morehead St. (2) . 15 Davidson .............. 22 Austin Peay (1) ... 25

Dayton (7) •••• 9 Drake (1) .... 16 USD (1) ..,.... 20 Valparaiso... 32 Butler ......... 33

After opening the season at NAIA power Azusa Pacific, the Toreros will also travel to Ivy League opponent Yale University on September 21st. Nonconference home dates include La Verne, PFL South champion Jacksonville, along with West– ern Oregon and Southern Oregon. The Toreros will also have to face PFL North Division oppo– nents Butler, Valparaiso, Drake and perrenial power Dayton.

* 1st Place votes in parenthesis * Coaches were not a11owed to vote fQr their own team.