SAN DIEGO (7-1, 3-0 PFL North) at VALPARAISO (2-6, 1-1 PFL North)

WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 2005, 12 p.m. CDT.

WHERE: Brown Field (5,000), Valparaiso, Ind.

RADIO: Valpo Sports Radio Network (WVUR, 95.1-FM, Valparaiso; WAKE, 1500-AM, Valparaiso; Relevant Radio 1270-AM, Gary; and WE-FM, 95.9-FM, Michigan City). Also available on the web at www.valpo.edu/athletics. Todd Ickow will handle the play-by-play with Brent Whitlock providing the color commentary.

TV: None.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is led by Stacy Adams, who is in his 1st season as the Crusader head coach. He is 2-6 overall and at Valpo. San Diego is led by Jim Harbaugh, who is 14-5 in his 2nd season overall and with the Toreros.

SERIES RECORD: San Diego holds a 7-5 advantage in the all-time series with the Crusaders. The two teams have split the meetings at Brown Field 3-3.

LAST MEETING: San Diego jumped out to a 28-7 lead midway through the third quarter on the way to a 49-14 victory over Valpo on October 16, 2004 in San Diego. Todd Mortensen threw for three touchdowns and Evan Harney rushed 31 times for 191 yards in the victory for the Toreros. Joe Blahowicz caught four passes for 72 yards for the Brown and Gold while Jeff Horton rushed for a score and Dustin Shamburg threw for one.

For just the second time in the last five weeks, Valparaiso returns to Brown Field on Saturday afternoon as the Crusaders host San Diego. Valpo is looking to rebound from a 52-7 defeat at the hands of Dayton last weekend.

VALPO LOOKS TO STAY IN PFL NORTH DIVISION RACE: Valparaiso needs a victory against San Diego to keep its hopes alive for the Pioneer Football League's North Division title. The Crusaders need to beat the Toreros and also down Drake next Saturday here at Brown Field to share the title with San Diego.

HORTON LEADS PFL: Jeff Horton leads the PFL in scoring having found the end zone ten times this season. He has rushed for eight scores and caught two passes for touchdowns. Horton is averaging 100.2 yards per game on the ground this season.

OGDEN BIG PLAY RECEIVER: Steve Ogden caught a pair of long passes last weekend. He hauled in a 62-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Doerffler and also caught a 50-yard reception to set Valpo up in the red zone. Ogden has now caught ten passes on the season for 299 yards, averaging 29.9 yards per catch.

BRINGING THEM DOWN: Josh Bintzler led the Crusaders in tackles last week at Dayton. The freshman brought down a season-high 12 runners, including one for a loss, while forcing his second fumble of the year.

STURMAN GOES OVER 200: With his nine tackles on Saturday at Dayton, Brandon Sturman has recorded more than 200 during his career with Valpo. The senior now has brought down 43 ball carriers this year and 204 total during his four-year career.

BEHAVING THEMSELVES: Valpo was whistled for just one penalty for five yards against Dayton.

DOWN THE ROAD: Valparaiso returns to Brown Field for the final time in the 2005 season next Saturday afternoon as the Crusaders close out PFL North Division play against Drake. Kickoff is set for noon on Senior Day. The Brown and Gold will then close the regular season out on November 12 with a road game at Aurora.

TEAM PLAYERS OF THE WEEK...
Offensive:
9/3 - Jeff Horton
9/10 - Joe Blahowicz
9/17 - Ryan Palonka
9/24 - Steve Ogden
10/1 - Mike Schilling
10/8 - Wade Overton
10/15 - Sal Washington
10/22 - Steve Ogden
Defensive:
9/3 - Mike Jones
9/10 - Brandon Sturman
9/17 - Brandon Sturman
9/24 - Andrew Akinpelu
10/1 - Matt Mancl
10/8 - Xavier Freeman
10/15 - James Riker
10/22 - Matt Watkins
Special Teams:
9/3 - Sal Washington
9/10 - Andrew McCawley
9/17 - Andrew Akinpelu
9/24 - Joe Blahowicz
10/1 - Joe Blahowicz
10/8 - John Schaekel
10/15 - Andrew McCawley
10/22 - Andrew McCawley
Offensive Scout:
9/3 - Rob Clark
9/10 - Daniel Engelhardt
9/17 - John Coffey
9/24 - James Stokes
10/1 - Erik Lindamood
10/8 - Trevor Jaskiw
10/15 - Ben Faulkner
10/22 - John Medina
Defensive Scout:
9/3 - Steve Lyons
9/10 - Brett Maynard
9/17 - Josh Bintzler
9/24 - Dave Daniels
10/1 - Jordan Allodi
10/8 - Andy Jackson
10/15 - Pat Ryan
10/22 - Seung Hwan Ro

SAN DIEGO NOTES: San Diego has won four straight contests after defeating Drake 31-26 at home last Saturday. The Toreros are looking to clinch their first trip to the Pioneer Football League championship game with a victory, as well as an outright PFL North Division title.

Josh Johnson has led the San Diego attack offensively. The sophomore quarterback has thrown for 1,974 yards and 20 touchdowns in eight games, leading the league's top offense. The Toreros are averaging 471.4 yards of offense.

Defensively, San Diego has held opponents to just 253.9 yards per game, the fewest in the league. Kyson Hawkins has recorded a team-high 60 tackles, including ten for loss, while Josh Brisco has recorded four interceptions and three pass breakups.