Cal Poly football suffers second straight blowout loss – and a bigger test lies ahead
For the first time in two years, Cal Poly football fans got to enjoy a game at Alex G. Spanos in person and turned out in force with a sellout of more than 11,000 for Saturday’s 2021 home opener.
They didn’t get to see a win, however, as the Mustangs (1-2) fell 48-14 to a South Dakota team that dominated on both sides of the ball, sending Cal Poly back to the drawing board and looking for ways to improve.
For the second week in a row, Cal Poly’s defense struggled.
The Coyotes (2-1) racked up 615 total yards after the Mustangs gave up 671 total yards in a 63-10 loss to Fresno State on Sept. 11.
Cal Poly entered Saturday’s game looking to build momentum heading into Big Sky Conference play on Sept. 25 at Montana.
But the Mustangs were hampered by the loss of starting quarterback Spencer Brasch, who broke his hand in last week’s game against Fresno State and will be out for an estimated six games, a timetable that’s a bit uncertain.
The points came early and often for the Coyotes, and by halftime, the Mustangs were down 41-7, leaving the Week of Welcome crowd with little to cheer about.
On the bright side, the Mustangs did hold the Coyotes to a 7-7 draw in the second half.
Graduate student Chris Coleman, a Fresno State transfer who caught one of the Mustang’s two touchdowns, said the Mustangs will strive to get better every week, overcoming growing pains.
“We do have a good team,” Coleman said. “We do have a good defense. We’re just young and, people don’t realize, it’s hard to win in college football, and it’s hard to win with guys who were in high school three months ago.”
Young quarterback gets first start
With the injury to Brasch, Cal Poly will be looking to fill the shoes of a player who threw for 528 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception in two games.
Backup quarterback Kahliq Paulette, a freshman from Converse, Texas, started Saturday and displayed his mobility, juking and darting to avoid defenders, to complement his passing attack.
He missed on a few throws to open receivers, and will be looking to improve accuracy.
Paulette finished 9 for 23 passing for 112 yards with a touchdown and 27 yards rushing on nine carries.
Paulette’s strongest throw of the first half hit receiver Michael Roth over the middle for a 46-yard connection that set up a 9-yard Chris Coleman touchdown reception in the first quarter.
“I just need to keep getting comfortable and learning the offense and just keep progressing,” Paulette said. “It’s kind of frustrating just not being where we need to be to win, but we’ll get there.”
Paulette cited his transition to Division 1 football and life in general, having recently lost his father who died last year, as part of his process of learning and growing.
“We’re a young team, and once we mature as a team we’re going to progress,” Paulette said. “We’re going to fight until the end.”
Head Coach Beau Baldwin said that Paulette is the starter for now, and that “he has ability and he has juice.”
“He did some good things, and he did some things he’ll learn from,” Baldwin said. “The touchdown drive after a third and 10 conversion early in the game was huge. But there were moments he’ll grow from and learn from. He has a mindset. I’m excited about Kahliq.”
Third-string quarterback Conor Bruce entered the game late in the second half and hit Michael Briscoe for a 61-yard touchdown pass on a slant in the fourth quarter.
Bruce went 3-for-3 passing for 69 yards in limited action.
Defensive miscues
On the other side of the ball, Cal Poly had trouble stopping plays for big gains from the get-go.
South Dakota rushed for 353 yards and four scores on the ground, and quarterback Carson Camp went 17 for 20, passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns as part of a 262-yard throwing attack for the Coyotes.
Mike Mansaray led the Coyotes with 141 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
“Regardless of how many we gave up in the first half, we had a different way about us in the second half,” Baldwin said. “We were playing under control.”
Baldwin said early on at times, “it felt like we were frantic.”
“They were playing under better control than us,” Baldwin said. “We’re going to be together fighting. As a competitor, losing stinks and we’re human, but we’re going to keep scrapping.”
Senior linebacker Matt Shotwell led the Mustangs with 13 tackles.
Defensive end Elijah Ponder recorded five tackles and two sacks.
Playing at home
The Mustangs said they were pumped up to play in front of a home crowd, many wearing black shirts in coordination with Cal Poly’s black uniforms as part of a theme night. Some left at halftime.
“It was really hyped,” Paulette said. “Shout out to all the people who came out tonight and stayed until the end. Sorry we couldn’t give the fans what they wanted. But yeah, we’ll be back.”
Baldwin said it was great to see “Mustang nation coming out in droves” and thanked them for turning out.
“Our guys felt it,” Baldwin said. “The energy was awesome. That was fun.”
Baldwin said the Mustangs will have to “grind and stay together” against a 2-0 Montana team as they open Big Sky Conference play nest week on the road.
“We’re in for a tough opponent,” Baldwin said. “They’re legit.”
Coleman said “one thing this team is not going to do is back down from anybody.”
“I’m fully ready,” Coleman said. “I know the team is ready to watch this (game tape) and move on to the next week, especially with Montana coming up. That’s a good test for us and for us to say ‘Where do you want to be?’”
This story was originally published September 18, 2021 at 11:25 PM with the headline "Cal Poly football suffers second straight blowout loss – and a bigger test lies ahead."
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