Cal Poly running back Deonte Williams (#10) and quarterback Andre Broadous have led Cal Poly to a fast start. Now, the Mustangs face the most difficult part of their schedule. Photo by Owen Main

Starting today, the Mustangs have to play the toughest stretch of their schedule, going on the road for 3 of the final four games, including visiting top-ranked Eastern Washington in a rare non-conference game versus a Big Sky opponent.

The Good

Cal Poly’s triple option, ball-control offense has proven effective at moving the ball, especially in the second half. They have had more big plays than last season and have survived nagging injuries to two of their running backs. Quarterback Andre Broadous is a senior and has played like one. He has used timely long passes and the knowledge of the offense fans would expect from a senior to establish himself as an extension of Coach Tim Walsh n the field. Walsh depends on Broadous to help make in-game adjustments and to find weaknesses in opposing defenses throughout any game.

While he is currently in second place all-time in rushing touchdowns, Broadous hasn’t had to run the ball himself for much of the first half of the season — a fact Walsh should be thankful for. Last season, Broadous punched it in himself 18 times and going into Saturday’s game, he is 8 scores away from James Noble’s all-time career rushing touchdown record of 35. Walsh has to be happy that he has not had to wear-down Broadous. When Cal Poly is in a tough spot, the ball gets put in Broadous’ hands. Look for the senior quarterback to tally more carries during the next four weeks than he has been during the first seven.

The Scary: the schedule

When this season’s schedule came out, Cal Poly fans saw a real opportunity. Non-conference games against a down Wyoming team and an overrated San Diego, paired with a conference schedule that did not include conference games against top-ranked Eastern Washington,  third-ranked North Dakota, or fourth-ranked Montana State, gave Walsh’s team a strong chance to win the Big Sky in their first season.

While they don’t have to play any of the above teams in-conference, this is the tough part of the schedule. Sacramento State is ranked fourth in the Big Sky (3-2 in conference) and narrowly missed upsetting the top team in FCS last week, losing to Eastern Washington 31-28. The Hornets are probably better than their 5-3 record indicates, having topped FBS Colorado in Boulder earlier in the year. They have been less consistent than the Mustangs, but have shown that they can play with just about anyone.

If Cal Poly survives this week, they get to go on the road to top-ranked Eastern Washington in a non-conference matchup. The Mustangs’ final game is in Flagstaff, AZ against 13th-ranked Northern Arizona, who is 4-0 so far in the tough Big Sky Conference.

What does it mean?

If Cal Poly can get past Sacramento State, an undefeated or one-loss regular season becomes a likelihood rather than a possibility. If the Mustangs lose in the state’s capital, then losses at Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona become more likely and a scenario where Cal Poly loses 3 games and misses the playoffs is a distinct possibility.

In other words, Cal Poly better bring their “A-Game” today. The difference now isn’t between a good or bad season — it’s between a good or great season. And the difference between good and great, at this level, for this team, will be razor-thin.

Post-game comments from last week’s victory over Portland State.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL0VXORKpuI

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHjb779xhU

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfJzuB5Rf_4

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=liThl6Dja6A

Deonte Williams has 609 rushing yards through four games, good enough for fifth place in the FCS. Photo by Owen Main

Last night, Cal Poly did something they haven’t done since 2004 — start the season with four straight wins. That year, Cal Poly won their first seven games, and if this year’s squad matches that feat, an FCS National Championship will be firmly on the minds of the Green and Gold nation.

I’ve tried to be careful not to over-hype this year’s team, but I can’t help it anymore. In football, four games is enough to get a good feeling about a team. And this team is good. Very good. Potentially, really, really, very good.

For Mustangs fans, there is so much to be excited about, but I thought I’d list 5 of these things.

1) This team deals with mid-game adversity. While they won their opener against the University of San Diego fairly easily, the next three games have all come amidst some adversity. At Wyoming, they gave up a 14-pont lead and trailed 15-14 before coming back to win the game. In the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe, Cal Poly surrendered 10 straight fourth-quarter points before their defense finally settled down to ice the game. Against North Dakota yesterday, the Mustangs again gave up a 14-point lead and all the momentum before coming back to score the final 21 points of the game and seal the Big Sky road victory.

The ability to deal with momentum shifts against you and still execute is a sign of a good team. If the Mustangs can continue to deal with in-game momentum swings in the way they have, they will probably continue to be successful.

2) The Mustangs are winning in the Big Sky. Over the past 8 years, Cal Poly and other Great West schools have been widely looked-down upon in FCS polls. Cal Poly fans were excited this year about conference legitimacy. In a better conference, Cal Poly has started 2-0, beating their rival and what was a good artificial-turf based 8th-ranked offense in FCS.

Winning in the Big Sky Conference will be a lot more meaningful than winning in the Great West. To compete for a national title, you need to be in the playoffs, and being in the Big Sky will help Cal Poly’s chances of getting in the playoffs.

3) The defense can stop the run, but it looks like they can do enough to stop the pass too. I have said all year that Cal Poly can stop the run. Their entire defense hits hard and wraps-up ball carriers. They continued to prove this in only giving up only 3.5 yards per rush in Grand Forks. The question I’ve had about their defense was how well they could get pressure on the quarterback and cover receivers downfield. To add to this question-mark, Cal Poly lost their defensive backs coach, Randy Hanson, after he was arrested after a bar fight during the preseason.

So, how has the defensive backfield responded? Well, the team has only given up 18.25 points per game to their opponents and hasn’t allowed more than 22 points in any single game. Cornerback Nico Molino has four interceptions in four games and Cal Poly has won the turnover battle forcing 10 turnovers in four games compared to giving up only 4 total.

4) At this point, Deonte Williams has established himself as a legitimate FCS star. Deonte Williams is a star. In four games, the senior slotback has stacked-up some impressive numbers. By the fourth game, when North Dakota must have been keying on him, Williams still was able to muster 125 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Williams now has 622 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season (4 games) and is averaging over 150 yards per game.

Williams is fifth in the FCS in rushing after four games and his continued success should open up other offensive options like Akaninyene Umoh, Kristaan Ivory, and this week’s all-purpose star Cole Stanford. A good triple option offense needs a group of runners who are all threats and while Williams has established himself as the main threat, others should benefit from opponents keying on him and quarterback Andre Broadous.

5) Cal Poly has not played a totally clean game yet. The Mustangs are getting wins out of games without probably playing their best. Whether getting down early, giving up two touchdown leads, or having to overcome missed field goals, the Mustangs haven’t had any games I would call easy yet. Even the San Diego game was somewhat close until the second half.

Speaking of field goals, kicker Bobby Zalud hasn’t been healthy since the Wyoming game. Zalud, who was 3-3 in the first two games, is 0-3 since he went down with back spasms prior to the UC Davis game. IF he can get healthy, Zalud can be a weapon for Cal Poly. If he is hurt, he has shown that he may be a liability. Cal Poly fans should keep Zalud on their radar, especially if the Mustangs are going to continue to play close games.

Cal Poly’s Andre Broadous threw only his second interception of his career, so other guys got most of the post-game press. Photo by Owen Main

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Cal Poly sings its fight song to the probably 200 or so Mustangs fans that attended the game:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOZUGK2JX5Y

Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh’s post-game comments:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl4MBU1PipQ

Defensive back Nico Molino intercepted the Cowboys late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. He described the play and what the win meant for the Mustangs:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9S5tc9xbCo

Running back Kristaan Ivory scored two touchdowns and discussed what his role is backing-up Deonte Williams.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpJvmmhfdJ8

Defensive leader Kenneth Jackson talked about playing a physical game vs. an FBS team and the importance of the win for the program:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzPBfXSyCK4

Senior running back Deonte Williams talks about how tired he was after his long runs and about avoiding a let-down going into the UC Davis game next week:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lQgrwtsFsE

Kicker Bobby Zalud kicked a game-winning 51 yard field goal. He talked about kicking at altitude, among other things.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzqwuhjIWv4