Cal Poly Football Notebook: Injury bug bites Mustangs early

At least one of Cal Poly’s injury fears were realized in Saturday’s 23-17 win over Humboldt State on Saturday night.

Several starters along the offensive line were forced to miss practices with day-to-day injuries in the weeks leading up to the opener to help ensure the group wouldn’t miss any time on Saturdays.

Though the starting lineup was pretty close to ideal it, didn’t stay that way for long.

The center and right tackle starters were game-time decisions. But when Cal Poly took its first possession after forcing a Lumberjacks punt with 12:28 left in the first quarter, the only projected starter on the bench was Art Munoz, who hasn’t put on pads in nearly a year.

Within a few plays, junior Scott Winnewisser — one of the game-time decisions — was replaced at right tackle by backup Lucas Trily.

Winnewisser came back on the next drive, but only a couple plays later center Hal Kelley, who would have started at right tackle if Winnewisser couldn’t go, was down with a leg injury.

Kelley was replaced by sophomore Geoff Hyde and was seen on the sideline on crutches with a brace on his left leg later in the game.

Langford shows off big boot

James Langford was one of Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh’s prized recruits on signing day, and the five-star kicker showed why on the opening kickoff.

The 6-foot-3, 192-pounder from Pleasanton’s Foothill High sent that kick more than 3 yards deep in the end zone.

After hurriedly backpedaling to grab the ball, Humboldt State return man Lyndon Rowells returned it to the 18-yard line.

That field position was certainly more favorable for Cal Poly than the placement the Lumberjacks got after Langford’s second kickoff. That one was fielded at the 10-yard line by Rowells, who returned it to the Humboldt State 46, following the 7-yard touchdown reception by Rodgers that tied the score at 7 just a minute into the second quarter.

Singletary spotted in the stands

Cal Poly running back Mark Rodgers wasn’t the only transfer making his debut for the Mustangs.

Baylor transfer Matt Singletary made three tackles backing up Gavin Cooper at defensive end, and there was another Singletary in the stands watching.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker who played for the Chicago Bears, was spotted in the westside stands at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

Wearing a gray T-shirt and white cap, the elder Singletary received handshakes and kudos from the fans who recognized him.

Coming up next

While Cal Poly struggled with Division II Humboldt State, the Mustangs’ opponent for next week pounded a traditional Division II team.

Montana took a 73-2 victory over Western State, a school of 2,400 located in Gunnison, Colo.

Montana had four interceptions and returned every one for a touchdown, and three Grizzlies quarterbacks combined to pass for six touchdowns.

Western State’s only points came on a first-quarter safety after it already trailed 21-0.