Cal Poly football falls to Portland State 59-21 in Big Sky opener
With five minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Mustangs found themselves down 45-7 to Portland State. Backup quarterback Bo Kelly lined up in a shotgun formation.
Before the ball was snapped, a Cal Poly offensive lineman stepped offsides for a false start penalty. After the play occurred, the commentator noted the Mustangs’ performance was “nothing short of an unmitigated disaster.”
The final score: 59-21 in favor of the Vikings.
Portland State was the only team the Mustangs defeated in Big Sky play last season, and Cal Poly was non-competitive against them to open up 2023 Big Sky play despite making roster improvements this year.
In the Mustangs’ next seven games, five of their matchups come against top-15 ranked FCS opponents, including two teams in the top 5 (No. 3 Montana State and No. 4 Sacramento State).
On the other hand, the Vikings didn’t receive a coaches’ vote to be on the top-25 rankings prior to the game.
Similar to Cal Poly’s blowout loss to San Jose State, the game opened up with a poor showing from the Mustangs’ special teams. The Vikings’ returner Christian Grubb returned the opening kickoff 99 yards.
The Mustangs’ offense then came onto the field and scored in four plays. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Huard connected with redshirt senior Bryson Allen for a 49-yard touchdown haul.
But the Vikings continued to make explosive play after explosive play, powered by a running attack that amassed 404 yards.
Two possessions after Allen’s touchdown reception, Portland State quarterback Dante Chachere scored on a 51-yard run.
The next two Portland State touchdowns came on gains of 50 yards or longer.
Huard exited earlier in the quarter and didn’t return to the field. Cal Poly said he wasn’t feeling well and it wasn’t due to injury. He was replaced by Kelly, a redshirt freshman who threw for one touchdown to freshman tight end Aidan Scott in the fourth quarter.
Running back Aiden Ramos was a bright spot for the Mustangs. The true freshman scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter and racked up 93 yards on 18 attempts for an average of 6.2 yards per rush.
Huard finished five of 12 for 103 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Washington transfer was sacked twice.
Kelly completed nine of 16 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
The Mustangs’ defense held Portland State to only one touchdown in the second half but allowed 496 yards of total offense and six touchdowns on the ground across the game.
Cal Poly will host UC Davis at Mustang Memorial Field in the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe for Homecoming weekend next Saturday at 5 p.m.
