Mustangs ride Cowboys to upset win

Posted: Sep 15, 2012 6:53 PM by Bill Halter
Updated: Sep 17, 2012 6:42 AM

The Cal Poly football team beat an FBS level team for the first time since 2008 with a 24-22 win at the University of Wyoming. The win improves the Mustangs to 2-0 and will certainly propel them into the top 25 of the national polls. The game was played in front of 21,728 people at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming.

Cal Poly got the ball first and on the fourth play from scrimmage, senior slotback Deonte Williams broke a 65 yard touchdown run to put the Mustangs up 7-0, 1:09 into the game.

The Mustang defense forced a three and out and quickly got the ball back to the offense. Williams had a 74 yard run to get the ball to the Wyoming five yard line and sophomore slotback Kristiaan Ivory took it in from there to put Cal Poly up 14-0, 5:07 into the game.

The Mustangs had 205 yards rushing in the first quarter but the second quarter was a different story. A 37 yard punt return by Jalen Claiborne gave Wyoming starting field position at the Cal Poly 25. The Cowboys were able to get it in the endzone from there and converted a two point conversion to make it 14-8.

A 12 play, 68 yard touchdown drive late in the second quarter gave Wyoming a 15-14 lead at the half.

Cal Poly retook the lead with 4:57 to go in the third quarter as quarterback Andre Broadous threw a five yard touchdown pass to Ivory. The Mustangs were up 21-15 going into the fourth quarter.

Junior kicker Bobby Zalud made a 51 yard field goal just over the cross bar with 9:49 to go in the fourth quarter to make it 24-15. Zalud is now 3-3 on field goal attempts and 8-8 on extra point attempts in his first season with the Mustangs since transferring from Arkansas State.

Wyoming quickly answered with an eight play, 75 yard touchdown drive to make it 24-22 with 7:34 to play.

The Cowboys got the ball twice more but they weren't even able to get a first down. Senior cornerback Nico Molino intercepted a pass at the Wyoming 37 yard line with 1:29 to play to seal the win.

Wyoming senior quarterback Brett Smith did not play after suffering a head injury last week against Toledo. The Cowboys are now 0-3 after finishing 8-5 last season and playing in the New Mexico bowl.

Williams led the Cal Poly rushing attack with 187 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. As a team the Mustangs rushed for 325 yards.

Broadous was 6-11 passing for 31 yards. He threw one interception to go with his touchdown pass.

Defensively, Cal Poly only allowed 260 yards, (137 rushing, 123 passing.) Senior middle linebacker Kennith Jackson had a team high 10 tackles, University of Wisconsin transfer Cameron Ontko had nine tackles from the outside linebacker position.

Cal Poly won the time of possession battle between the two no-huddle teams, 35:39 to 24:21.

The Mustangs return home next Saturday for the first Big Sky Conference game in program history. Cal Poly will host UC-Davis in the battle for the Golden Horsheshoe. The Aggies have beaten the Mustangs the last three meetings. The game will kickoff at 6:05 and can be seen on KSBY-TV with the pregame show starting at 5:30.