Cal Poly pulls out improbable 20-19 win in Missoula

Chris Brown led Cal Poly with 130 rushing yards in the win over Montana. By Owen Main

If visiting teams are lucky, they might win a game in Missoula every two years or so. The Montana Grizzlies’ win nearly 90 percent of games at Washington-Grizzly Stadium all-time.

It was against that backdrop that Cal Poly used a late field goal by back-up kicker Alex Vega (Gilroy CA) in his first collegiate game to beat Montana 20-19.

Vega, whose leg a little stronger than that of normal kicker Stephen Pyle according to Tim Walsh, drilled the 49 yard go-ahead field goal with four seconds left. Not a bad feat for a freshman whose first career attempt came with the game hanging in the balance.

In fact, the former Gilroy Mustang’s career high in high school was only

The high scoring game that was predicted by both Brint Wahlberg and I never came to fruition as both defenses played better than advertised. A 20-19 score might have been believable for the end of the first half.

Cal Poly’s offense had a few chances to extend their lead and take the momentum. Important drives were stopped by Montana’s defense at the end of the first half and in the fourth quarter, including at least one inside Montana’s 10 yard line.

Going against all of that, the Cal Poly offense,with zero time-outs, found ways to get out of bounds, stop the clock, and gain enough yards to give their kicker a chance.

Vega took advantage of his chance. Did I mention it was raining?

What a game.

26,065

It’s hard to overstate the home field advantage Montana enjoys in Missoula. I guess I’ll just put it this way: historically, Washington-Grizzly Stadium is the toughest environment to play in at the FCS level. In the rain, behind 26,065 screaming fans on Saturday night, it seemed that Montana’s ability to ride the Wa-Griz momentum would break Cal Poly’s hearts again.

Here’s a text I sent to a friend at 8:51 last night, when the score was still 17-17 and Cal Poly had just been stuffed in the red zone:

Me: Unlucky tonight. Great game plan and had every chance. Still not over, but would take a lot to hold-on at this point. 

Friend: That’s how it always is. Montana gets every big break in that building. It’s uncanny.

It seemed like things were going as normal last night. Then that last drive happened.

It was just the 21st loss for the Grizz all-time at their home stadium and the second time Cal Poly has won there.

Give it to the Fullback

I don’t know a ton about football, but the one thing I like to see from the triple option offense is when Cal Poly uses their fullback a LOT. On Saturday, Joe Protheroe had 29 attempts. Chris Brown led Cal Poly in yards and rushed it 24 times himself, but Protheroe averaged 3.9 yards per carry while never carrying it for more than eight yards. He was a workhorse.

Why do I advocate so much for the fullback? Well, the Chris Brown touchdown is why. Also, the ability of Garcia to get the edge late is why. If Cal Poly can force-feed Protheroe and Jared Mohamed to the tune of 30-plus carries and average more than four yards per carry overall, they are going to be really hard to stop. Fullback productivity can open up everything else in the triple option and control the clock too Feeding the fullback is one way Cal Poly was able to control the clock in the second half, keep Montana’s offense off the field, and give themselves a chance to win at the end.

Nard with three picks

For his first two seasons on-campus, BJ Nard was forced to sit, wait, and rehab. The junior from Bakersfield finally got a chance to play on Saturday night and certainly made the most of it, notching three interceptions.

While trying to run-back the final one, Nard was tackled by Montana receiver Ellis Henderson. Nard’s leg appeared to be awkwardly caught underneath him, causing him to fumble and miss at least a play or two. For a guy who’s worked hard to come back from multiple knee injuries, Cal Poly fans will hope his injury this time was just a scare and not anything serious.

Nard’s three interceptions in a game make him the 10th Mustang all-time to accomplish that feat and the first in 19 years. Kiko Griffin was the last to do it, in 1996.

Special Teams redemption

For a moment, Cal Poly special teams seemed to have let them down. After backpedaling for over 15 yards, Chris Fletcher attempted to field a punt inside Cal Poly’s 5 yard line with just under four minutes left. Fletcher muffed the punt but was able to dive on it at the Cal Poly two yard-line.

On the next play, Chris Brown was sacked for a safety. It seemed that Cal Poly just couldn’t get it right. But the defense held the Grizzlies on the ensuing possessions. Timeouts were used judiciously. Cal Poly gave themselves another chance. The field goal unit and Alex Vega made everyone forget just how close to disaster the Mustangs came.

Field Goals win games?

Tim Walsh has said a lot of times that field goals don’t win games in the Big Sky Conference. For at least a weekend, Cal Poly fans are glad for this field goal. Glad for this win.

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