Cal Poly Football earned their first win of the 2024 season after handling Division-II Western Oregon at home by a score of 31-14 on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Mustang Memorial Field.
The Mustang (1-2) offense found a more consistent rhythm in the second half, while their defense held the Wolves (0-2) to just 14 points.
Although the offense played better in the second half, they still showed glimpses of why they were toppled by Stanford and the University of San Diego in previous weeks.
The running game showed improvement, totaling 51 yards against the Wolves compared to their 33 total yards in their previous two matchups combined, but head coach Paul Wulff highlighted the need to find a consistent rhythm on offense.
“We hit good plays, and then we don’t,” Wulff said. “We’re still working through that consistency on offense.”
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Bo Kelly‘s play contributed to the team’s increased offensive consistency in the second half.
In the first half, Kelly held an 8-for-16 passing clip for 121 yards and a touchdown.
In the second half, he boasted a 12-for-17 passing clip for 140 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
This is a significant improvement from the four combined interceptions in the past two games.
“He settled down and we were able to run the ball a little better,” Wulff said. “Just by doing that, that helped our passing game.”
The defense, on the other hand, showed the consistency the offense seemingly lacks.
Despite Western Oregon’s offense outgaining the Mustangs 388 to 315, the Cal Poly defense held the Wolves to six first-half points and eight second-half points.
“We have work to do, but are far more physical and athletic than we’ve ever been,” Wulff said.
The front seven has been the highlight of the defense, as they accumulated eight tackles for loss and two sacks against Western Oregon.
One of those sacks came courtesy of redshirt senior defensive end Elijah Ponder at the end of the third quarter.
Ponder was forced to sit out of the first half of Saturday’s contest following a targeting penalty against Stanford.
Ponder credits newfound chemistry among the team for this defensive resurgence.
“I think we’ve got the people around us and the chemistry that we built over the offseason,” Ponder said.
On Cal Poly’s first offensive drive, Kelly found redshirt senior receiver Giancarlo Woods for a 55-yard gain to set the offense up on the nine-yard line.
Redshirt freshman running back Aiden Ramos punched the ball across the g0alline to open the scoring and take an early 7-0 lead.
After trading several three-and-outs, the Mustang offense padded their lead in the second quarter with a double reversal play. Kelly found redshirt junior tight end Michael Otterstedt wide-open for a 34-yard touchdown to take a 14-0 lead.
Western Oregon responded on the very next drive after punching in a 5-yard touchdown run.
After a missed extra point, the Mustangs took a 14-6 lead into halftime.
The Wolves tied things up early in the second half after a 44-yard rushing touchdown before converting a two-point attempt.
Cal Poly responded immediately when Kelly found redshirt senior receiver Michael Briscoe on a deep post route for a 51-yard touchdown to take a 21-14 lead.
It’s a lead the Mustangs wouldn’t give up following a 39-yard punt return by redshirt senior cornerback Xavier Oliphant, set up a 21-yard touchdown reception by redshirt junior tight end Jake Woods.
A late fourth-quarter field goal from redshirt sophomore kicker Noah Serna all but sealed Cal Poly’s 31-14 victory.
The Mustangs will have a bye week before starting Big Sky conference play when they take on Northern Colorado on the road, their only Big Sky win a season ago, on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 12 p.m.
