A 47-14 season-ending loss to Weber State Saturday marked the end of Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh’s first season leading the Mustangs.
The former Portland State head coach led Cal Poly to a 4-7 record, racking up four consecutive loses for the first time since 2002.
Before the Mustangs, Walsh had a 117-82 record in 18 seasons as a head coach. His 14-year stint with Portland State (90-98, 93-06) and his four years at Sonoma State (89-92) netted him a 70 career winning percentage.
His first year at Cal Poly resulted in a 47 winning percentage, 11 points lower than the Mustangs all-time record as a football team (453-356-20).
Succeeding former head coach Rich Ellerson, who departed last year for Army, Walsh has etched Cal Poly’s first winless road schedule in 11 years.
Under Ellerson, four-year starters Ramses Barden, James Noble, Stephen Field and Tre’dale Tolver and transfers Ryan Mole and Jonathan Dally departed after an 8-3 season.
This season,the roster featured 64 underclassman.
Cal Poly held 37 upperclassmen including 12 seniors who played their final game as a Mustangs this weekend, a group of which include the likes of Jono Grayson, Carlton Gillespe and Jon Hall, among others.
It was déjà vu all over again for Cal Poly as No. 12 Weber State ended Cal Poly’s season for the second-consecutive year.
The Mustangs offense rolled early, piecing together an 80-yard drive capped with a 28-yard David Mahr touchdown reception for the first possession of the game.
Weber State responded, notching 31 points in the second second quarter against a Cal Poly defense that has struggled in past weeks.
Thirty-eight points, 293 yards and three Mustang turnovers later, Cal Poly would answer back.
Junior fullback Jordan Yocum caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Smith, ending a 70-yard, 16-play drive that took 8:43 off the clock in the third quarter.
Weber State added a field goal and junior quarterback Cameron Higgins’ fourth touchdown pass to complete the offensive showcase.
Wildcat senior running back Trevyn Smith cracked the 5,000-yard mark in career rushing. Higgins, who passed for 364 yards, connected with Bo Bolen on a 15-yard scoring pass and with Tim Toone on 26-, 17- and 44-yard touchdown passes as Weber State improved to 7-4.
Toone finished the regular season with his 200th career catch and 28th career touchdown. He had 11 catches for 176 yards against the Mustangs.
Cal Poly’s leaders offensively were Jake Romanelli with 55 yards rushing on 15 carries and Smith, who completed 11 of 24 passes for 166 yards and both Mustang touchdowns. He was sacked five times and threw a pair of interceptions.
Mahr, Hall, Eric Gardley and Grayson each had a pair of catches for Cal Poly.
Junior linebacker Marty Mohamed recorded eight tackles and senior cornerback Xavier Gardner added seven for Cal Poly.
For Weber State, Higgins completed 23 of 33 passes. He passed for 399 yards and two scores in a 49-35 win over the Mustangs in last year’s first-round NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff game.
This season Cal Poly’s rushing attack ran through defenses for 1,963 yards and the Mustang passing threat contributed for 1,686 yards.
This season marked a 1,408 yard drop off on the ground.
The Mustangs fell short of last year’s campaign by 305 yards. Smith finished his first starting season with 1,618 yards and 15 touchdowns. Dally passed for 1,960 last year.
Cal Poly ended its season unranked and at the bottom of the Great West.