USD Football 1999

11

Meet The Toreros

Oscar Arzu returns for his third year with the Toreros ... last season he appeared in 10 games with 6 starts at tailback ... hi s team-leading 628 yards rushing was hi ghli ghted by hi s 214 yard outburst in the team's 42-30 road victory at Wagner College on Sept. 12th (he earned PFL Offensive Player of the Week honors) ... he gained 11 9 yards in season fin ale vs. Dayton, including a 60-yard ru sh ... in 1997 appeared in six games, finishing with 17 carries for 52 yards (3 .1 yards per carry average) ... hi s two best outings came in Pioneer Football League contests -- he ru shed 8 times for 29 yards with a long of 7 yards in Torero win over Evansville, and he ru shed for 15 yards against Valparaiso on two carries with a season-long scamper of 14 yards ... from Baldwin Park, California, Oscar prepped at Sierra Vista Hi gh School where in hi s senior year he finished second in the state in rushing with 3,320 yards and 44 touchdowns ... born and li ved in Beli ze until he was nine years old ... first time he played organized footba ll was at hi gh schoo l level ... chose USD for strong academics. Major: Electrical Engineering.

Oscar Arzu #37 JR TB

Anthony Banovac returns for his third year with the Toreros where he is expected to see considerable playing time at defensive tackle ... last season he tallied 13 tackles (6 unassisted) with two quarterback sacks (-11 yards) and four tackles fo r loss (- 14 yards) ... in season opener against Azusa Pacific he came in and posted 4 stops with two tackles going for losses ... prior to USD he prepped at Crespi High School where he was a three-sport letterwinner in football, basketball and baseball ... his senior year in football the team went 12-2 and posted a state ranking of No. 2 ... senior year earned the team's Most Inspirational Award, and junior campaign was the recipient of the Iron Man Award ... also recruited by West Point, Utah State and Hawaii ... Major: Biology; Minor: Chemistry.

Anthony Banovac #57 JR DT

Bryan Baxter returns for his second year with the Toreros where he wi ll start at inside linebacker ... he earned hi s first start against Cal Lu and wen t on to start the final

7 games of the season, finishing second on the team in tackleswith 72 (4 1 unassisted) ... he had at least 9 stops in each of the final six games, netting 9 tackles three times (Central Conn ., Butler & Valparaiso), 12 tackles twice (Fairfield & Drake), and a team-best 2 1tackles in season final against Dayton where he tallied IO unassisted tackles; four going for losses ... he prepped at San Benito HS in Hollister, CA ... earned 2nd Team All-Central Coast Section honors and Monterey Bay All -League recognition ... two-time MVP Defensive Player of the Year for both team and league ... also lettered in wrestling where he was a state qualifier and earned 3rd Team All-Section and I st Team All-League honors ... Major: Undeclared.

Bryan Baxter #45 SO LB

Josh Bird returns for his fourth and final year with the Toreros where he will again see playing time on the offensive line ... has made travel squad last two seasons, and saw playing time in majority of 1998 season in a reserve role ... has improved tremendously in weight room where he squats 495 lbs. ... from Danvill e, California, he prepped at San Ramon Valley High School where he earned First Team All-East Bay Athletic League honors as an offensive lineman ... senior year was also selected a Team Captain and was the recipient of the team's 'Coaches Award' ... chose USD for quality education, football program and location of school ... also recruited by St. Mary's, Will amette and Pomona ... hobbies include golf and fishing ... Major: Business Administration.

Josh Bird #77 SR OL

Matt Craig returns for his second year with the Toreros where he wi ll move to

the defensive line after playing tight end (7 starts) last season ... prior to USD he prepped at St. Bernard Hi gh School in the Humboldt-Del Norte League ... team was CIF State runner-up three straight years ('95, '96, '97) ... junior year team went I 0-2 and earned a state ranking of No. 9 ... senior year was All-County Offensive Tackle and Outside Linebacker after finishing second on the team in tackles ... junior year was team Offensive Lineman of the Year and earned All -Country Honorable Mention honors at right tackle ... besides footba ll , also lettered in golf where he was selected the team captain ... chose USD for educational opportunities and football ... also recruited by Air Force, Colorado School of Mines and Pomona Pitzer ... Major: Electrical Engineering.

Matt Craig #92 SO OT

Matt Guardia returns for hi s second season with the Toreros where he will again see action on offense as a tight end ... last year as a freshman he earned two starts and played

in last three games of the season, hauling in 8 passes for 154 yards ( 19.3 yards per catch) and I touchdown , a 25- yarder against Valparai so ... hi s single-season long reception came in the last game versus Dayton of 42 yards; in that game he had a team-best 6 catches for 98 yards ... he caught a 3 1-yarder against Drake in game #8 ... from Rocklin , California, he prepped at Jesuit High School where he earned All -Metro League honors as both a tight end and linebacker ... hi s teams advanced to the section playoffs three years with hi s sophomore team winning the Section Championship .. . he also lettered in baseball ... Major: Business Administration.

Matt Guardia #82 SO TE