Kennith Jackson (#9) and the Mustangs’ defense will have to bounce back this week, especially against the pass, if the Mustangs are to challenge the Eagles in “The Inferno”

The Mustangs had a golden opportunity.

A win at Sacramento State last week would have given Cal Poly an 8-0 record to start the season and all but assured them of a playoff birth. With three games left — one of which is against 1-7 Idaho State — the Mustangs are instead faced with outcomes ranging from winning out and snatching a shot at the Big Sky title, or losing two of their last three games and putting their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

It goes without saying that Tim Walsh’s team has a lot riding on the next 15 days.

First thing’s first

On Saturday, Cal Poly will go on the road for the second consecutive week and face Big Sky opponent Eastern Washington in a non-conference matchup that could help decide the playoff fates of both teams. After losing a tough game and not looking particularly sharp in Sacramento last week, the Mustangs face what might be their toughest test of the season. Eastern Washington won the National Championship only two seasons ago and is tied with Cal Poly for second place in the Big Sky at 5-1 in conference. Despite their two-loss record, Eastern Washington is still ranked ahead of one-loss Cal Poly. The teams are ranked 8th and 16th respectively.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeNmrBybXUU

Matching-up against a Big Sky opponent in a non-conference game may not be the most odd thing about Saturday’s contest. Eastern Washington plays on a red-colored artificial field, shown in the video above. It also looks like they wear red uniforms. Boise State, who plays on a blue field, was banned in 2011 from wearing all-blue uniforms by the Mountain West Conference. The conference cited a competitive advantage. Earlier this season, Cal Poly was banned from wearing white uniforms that featured hard-to-read gold numbers by the Big Sky Conference.

Red uniforms are the least of Cal Poly’s concerns though. Tim Walsh said he thought the Eagles’ three top wide receivers would “play at the next level” and the Eagles’ offense is a juggernaut. Last season, Eastern Washington beat Cal Poly 53-51 in triple overtime at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

To beat Eastern Washington, Cal Poly will have to match sharpness they harnessed at the beginning of the Wyoming game and the end of the North Dakota game, both won by the Mustangs. Last week, Cal Poly lost two fumbles in key situations and incurred 95 penalty yards. If they think they’re going to beat Eastern Washington, they have to have less than half that number.

Lots of Possibilities

While Idaho State makes a four-game losing streak to end the season unlikely, the Mustangs still have a wide range of possibilities to end their season. Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona, who the Mustangs visit for their last game of the season, are both ranked ahead of the Mustangs in the Big Sky this season. Losses to both teams on the road could put the Cal Poly outside of the FCS playoff picture.

If they split the Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona matchups, Cal Poly would end the season with two losses, possibly still tie for the top record in conference, and, most likely, still make the playoffs. Eastern Washington’s 2010 title season included a pair of losses.

Bouncing back from the Sacramento State loss with three straight wins is the best-case scenario for Mustang fans. It would boost Cal Poly into a seeded position, a probable Big Sky Conference title, and some momentum going into the playoffs.

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