USD Football 2004

Meet The Toreros ---------16 Rusty Higbie enters hi s senior year with the Toreros where he will again compete for playing time with the offensive line unit at right guard . .. he came to USD via College of San Mateo where he helped the Bulldogs to an 8-3 overall record and earned l st Team All-Golden Gate Conference ... from San Mateo, he prepped at San Mateo High School where he was a two-time l st Team All-Peninsula Athletic League performer .. . senior year was also awarded 2 nd Team All-San Mateo County honors ... also lettered in track &field and wrestling ... chose USD for location, academics and football program ... also recruited by Valparaiso and Liberty. Major: History .

Paul Kumer returns for his senior year where this season he will compete for playing time at the linebacker position ... last season finished 10th on the team in total tackles with 31 (14 solo) ... in two different contests totaled 5 stops (Davidson & Southern Oregon) .. . named

Rusty Higbie #74 SR OL

to2003 PFLHonorRoll ... in 2002, at rover, he finished tied for 14th in team tackles with 21 (13 solo) ... three of his tackles went for loss and he also contributed l forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries ... he tallied a game-best 5 tackles in USD's road game at Yale ... also totaled 4 stops against La Verne and Southern Oregon ... freshman year had 4 tackles in 4 appearances ... prepped at Christopher Columbus HS where he totaled 70 tackles and 15 quarterback sacks his senior year ... team went 9-3 senior year and were District Champions ... also lettered in basketbal l and track & field ... he was honorable mention all-county in track (49.5 in 400 meters) ... also recruited by Air Force, Navy and Princeton. Major: English.

Paul Kumer #20 SR LB

Philip Bretsch returns for his second season with the Toreros where he will again play on defense at the defensive back position ... last season he appeared in all 10 games and

finished 7th on the team in tackles with36 stops (17 solo) ... he tallied 2 quarterback sacks and 2 1/2 tackles for loss .. . he also chipped in with 5 pass breakups ... he turned in a game-best 8 tackles against La Verne, and later tallied 7 stops against Valparaiso (6 solo) ... he began his collegiate career at UC San Diego where he played one year of baseball and started in the outfield .. . he prepped at Fall brook High School where as a senior he totaled 8 picks on his way to earning First Team All-CIF, First Team All-Avocado and All-North County honors ... he chose USD for location, academics and great football program .. . also recruited by Dartmouth and Georgetown ... his brother, Cory,

is in the USC Marching Band. Major: Business.

Philip Bretsch #41 JR DB

Josh Brisco returns for his third year where he will again compete for playing time on the defensive side of the ball at defensive back ... last season he appeared in 7 contests and

finished with 7 tackles ... he tallied 3 stops against Butler and 2 versus La Verne ... prior to USD he prepped at Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson, Arizona where he lettered in both football and track & field ... as a running back earned I st Team All-Region honors for club that went 9-1 and were Keno Region 4A champions ... he rushed forover 700 yards on 80 carries ... in track & field he placed 2nd in the state in discus and 5th in the 100 meters his senior year ... chose USD for football program and location of campus ... also recruited by Occidental and Willamette. Major: Communications; Minor: Spanish.

Josh Brisco #21 JR DB

RyanMaine enters hisjunioryearofathleticeligibility and senior year in academics ... with the graduation ofquarterbacks Eric Rasmussen and Brian Kirkpatrick, Maine is USD' s most

experienced returner . . . Maine saw action in the road win over Davidson where he rushed one time for 17 yards ... he transferred to USD from Sacramento State where he was named the team's Scout Team Player of the Year ... from Diamond Bar, California, Ryan prepped at Diamond BarHigh School where during his senior campaign he was tabbed the SierraLeague OffensiveMVP ... also named Al 1-CIFand All-League, he threw for 15 touchdowns and 2,300 yards .. .junior year team went 14-0 and were CIFChamps with Ryan throwing for 1,600 yards and 13 TDs ... as a sophomore the team went 13-1 and also were CIF Champs .. . also lettered in baseball and basketball . .. chose USD for strong academics and campus setting ... also recruited by Nevada, Sac State, and Georgia Tech. Major: Communications.

Ryan Maine #13 JR QB

Dustin Owen returns for his fourth year and third season of competition ... he will be competing for a starting spot at tight end for the Toreros' offensive unit ... last season he appeared in 9 contests and finished with 6 receptions for 65 yards and 1 touchdown ... his best game came against Marist where he hauled in 3 receptions for 40 yards, including a long of24 yards ... in win over Drake he caught a 5-yard touchdown ... during the 2002 campaign he caught 7 balls for 101 yards (14.4 average) and l touchdown (12 yards vs. Drake) ... he tallied 2 reception s twice (35 yards vs. Western Oregon with long of28 yards; 26 yards vs. Dayton with long of 14) ... prior to USD he attended Canyon Del Oro High School in Arizona where he was a two-way player at tight end and defensive end ... senior year was honorable mention all-state at both positions besides being named team captain and Most Inspirational ... al so lettered in track and played club soccer during his high school career ... chose USD for strong academic program and opportunity to play football ... also recruited by Northwestern, New Mexico State and Adams State ... Major: Business; Minor: Leadership.

Dustin Owen #8 JR TE