Cal Poly Football: That was encouraging

I don’t know about you, but I get much more nervous and emotionally invested in a football game when I watch it on TV. At a game, on the sidelines, the butterflies keep a low profile. Last night, they were banging in my belly like a timpani.

We’ve seen the blueprint for beating an FBS school in a money game — get out fast, limit mistakes, and be close enough at the end to make a big play.

On Friday night in Reno, Cal Poly broke two of those rules from the jump. On their first defensive possession, the Mustangs gave up a 50-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing offensive possession, senior quarterback Dano Graves fumbled a pitch on the first third-down of the year. Four plays later, the Wolfpack took advantage of the short field for a 14-0 lead less than 6 minutes into the game.

No two ways about it: this was a bad start.

But then Dano Graves and Joe Protheroe found a rhythm.

After the 14-0 Nevada start, Cal Poly outscored the Wolfpack 17-3 for the remainder of the game, looking every bit like a Big Sky contender.

Shifting Gears

Senior quarterback Dano Graves looked really good against Nevada on Friday night. By Owen Main

Dano Graves was every bit the shifty runner Cal Poly fans remember, and more. On Friday night, the senior rushed for 140 yards on 26 carries.

After watching the Chris Brown lead the option last year, Mustang fans are used to seeing accelerated, straighter line runs that have the chance for a big play any time. In Graves, the chances for those 50-plus yard runs aren’t quite the same, but there is a benefit — Graves’ shiftiness. Last-minute cuts in unusual directions allow the Cal Poly quarterback to keep the offense moving.

Second down and 6 is a lot better than second and 8. Third and 3 gives the Mustangs more options than third and 5. The extra two yards Dano gets by that last, final cut — not trying to juke and make the huge play — will keep those Mustang chains moving on key drives.

Graves’ running style won’t win him any points with his body or trainers — he’s sure to take some knocks with awkward-looking cut-backs and final lunges forward. But that’s what keeps the triple option running. It’s one of the unique skills Graves has that helps him be a good match for Cal Poly’s triple option.

New coaches, no problem

In their first game at Cal Poly (or, in Payam Saadat’s case, first game BACK at Cal Poly), there weren’t a lot of signs of transition or players getting up to speed. Yes, the offense had some personnel issues in the first half and had to burn a few timeouts in Juston Wood’s first game calling plays as the offensive coordinator, but overall Wood called a good game.

Yes, the offensive linemen at Cal Poly got caught for some blocks below the waist and cut blocks in the second half, but overall the line looked pretty good. The Mustangs were 3/3 on fourth down short yardage running plays. Early returns on new offensive line coach Todd Spencer are looking good.

The Mustangs’ defense hasn’t had a 20-sack season as a team in a while. Maybe they’re on their way to one. With the combination of Josh Letuligasenoa’s return and Payam Saadat’s, well, return, Cal Poly had a pair of sacks and got effective penetration into the backfield, even without the suspended Marcus Paige-Allen. Yes, they blitzed in the wrong place on the first-quarter 50-yard run Nevada scored on, but they bowed-up and gave up just 3 points in quarters 2-4. Keeping opponents under 30 points in the Big Sky is a recipe for success.

Kitu’s start

After redshirting last season, freshman Kitu Humphrey seems ready to play a defensive role in 2016. By Owen Main

A year ago, on the second leg on my flight back to SLO from the Arizona State game, a quiet kid with Cal Poly gear got onto the plane. His seat was right next to mine.

Kitu Humphrey had gotten himself to the away game in Tempe. We chatted a little about redshirting, high school football in Los Angeles (Humphrey went to Long Beach Poly), and how we was enjoying San Luis Obispo in his first few weeks here.

Humphrey is 5′ 10″ tall, but is more rangy than that and has a good nose for the ball. He was second on the team with seven total tackles on Friday night. While this is a team that is almost always upper-classman dominated, freshman starters can be really fun to keep track of. For his part, Humphrey has a chance to be a solid, four-year key contributor.

Torrero Time

The home opener comes next Saturday at Alex G. Spanos Stadium when the University of San Diego Toreros come to town. USD plays in the Pioneer League at the FCS level, where athletic scholarships aren’t given. Graves started the Mustangs’ last game the two teams played and Cal Poly won handily in San Diego two years ago. Kickoff is 4:05pm.