Ryan ChartrandOn paper, it looks like Cal Poly should have no problem with Northern Colorado Saturday at Alex G. Spanos Stadium, but never underestimate a hungry 0-4 team.
The Bears have been outscored by opponents 177-33 in four games this season and are eagerly looking to end their losing streak.
“We have a great respect for Northern Colorado,” Cal Poly head coach Rich Ellerson said in a telephone interview. “They’re playing better every week.”
Aside from the fact that the team is sporting 63 underclassmen on a 90-man squad, and what the season totals look like thus far, the Bears have shown improvement offensively in their past three games.
Northern Colorado put up only 182 total offensive yards against then-No. 23 Hawaii on Sept. 1. but followed up the next week with 214 against Chadron State, and then 333 against the University of San Diego Sept. 15.
The team hit a plateau last week in their conference opener at Northern Arizona, coming up with 326 total offensive yards in the Bears conference opener against Northern Arizona. Despite the end result of a 34-14 loss, it was the team’s closest game so far.
“We watched the Northern Arizona game and know that (Northern Colorado) isn’t going to lay down,” Ellerson said.
The majority of the game’s yardage came in the passing game where Bears quarterbacks Mike Vlahogeorge and Dominic Breazeale completed 18-29 for 132 yards.
Breazeale has played in all four of Northern Colorado’s games this season and is hovering around the 50 percent mark in passing.
Vlahogeorge, who has been the starter for the Bears in the past three games, has thrown for 467 of Northern Colorado’s 693 total passing yards.
The top target for the Bears’ quarterbacks has been Andy Birkel, who has 19 catches for 178 yards.
Cory Fauver and Ryan Chesla have also been key players in the passing game with 14 catches apiece for 169 and 153 yards respectively.
On the ground, the Bears are led by David Woods, who has accumulated 230 yards in 54 carries.
As for Cal Poly, last week’s first half proved against a motivated Division II Western Oregon that a determined team can and will put points on the board if the opportunity is given.
The Mustangs were also back to their early-season offensive tactics of fumbling the ball in the Western Oregon game, turning the ball over twice on four fumbles.
Defensively, Cal Poly has been working through injuries but has been able to adjust to the absence of players with more contribution from defenders like Marty Mohammed and Xavier Gardner, according to Ellerson.
Mark Restelli, who earned Great West Defensive Player of the Week honors following the Western Oregon game, contributed with 11 tackles, two passes-defended and hurried the quarterback once.
Restelli also recorded a blocked field goal.
Offensively, the Mustangs’ have found a double threat in wide receiver Jono Grayson.
Grayson played in eight games last season caught three passes for 37 yards. On the ground he only gained 2 yards on two carries.
This season Grayson, who has seen action as a result of the numerous injuries to the Mustang rush, has emerged as one of Cal Poly’s top ground threats.
Grayson has chosen this season to “pull his redshirt” and in two games has carried the ball 12 times and harvested 115 yards. At receiver, he has two catches for two touchdowns.
“He’s one of those guys in the group that’s got some magic,” Ellerson said. “We’re not surprised he’s playing so well.”
Another standout so far this season has been John Hall.
Hall, who did time last season at tight end and half back, has adjusted well to full back with 188 yards on 40 carries and currently leads the team in rushing yards.
Ellerson touched on the possibility of James Noble and Ryan Mole seeing some action in the Saturday game.
“They’re available,” Ellerson said.
He also said that putting them in while not fully recovered places the players “in danger” of re-injury.
Mole said in a telephone interview that he was “out and running around” in Tuesday’s practice and then practiced plays on Wednesday and Thursday.
“It felt good,” Mole said.
Mole said that he’s been keeping up with film during his injury and has been making sure to keep mentally prepared for his return.
On returning, Mole said that his initial challenge will be to “get a feel for the game speed.”
“Northern Colorado has a lot of potential,” Mole said. “We have to go out and play physical and play a good game.”