Kori Garcia, a freshman who impressed fans during the Spring Game (above), only carried the ball one time for one yard against San Diego. The Mustangs won 38-16 at Alex G. Spanos Stadium to start their season. (Photo by Nha Ha)
Stephan Teodosescu
sports@mustangdaily.net
With the help of five touchdowns scored on the ground, including three from junior slotback Kristaan Ivory, the No. 11 Cal Poly football team pulled away from non-scholarship FCS program San Diego to win 38-16 in the season opener Saturday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
The Mustangs (1-0) never trailed in the game as Ivory broke free for an 81-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead on their first offensive play from scrimmage. He added scores of 2 and 61 yards on his way to a career-high 185 yards — his second career 100-yard performance.
Cal Poly led 17-10 at halftime, but came out strong in the second half with Ivory’s 61-yard scamper just 2:31 into the third quarter. Senior fullback Akaninyene Umoh then scored on a 45-yard run to put the Mustangs up 31-10 before senior slotback Cole Stanford sealed the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
With the victory, the Mustangs improved to 3-0 all-time over San Diego and recorded their second consecutive win in season openers against the Toreros (0-1). Last year, Cal Poly won 41-14 with a similar second half-outburst.
Junior quarterback Vince Moraga, the winner of a four-way battle in fall camp for the starting position Saturday, finished his debut completing 15 of 21 passes for 226 yards. He also added 38 yards on the ground on nine carries. Despite not recording a touchdown, his performance marked the most yards gained by a Cal Poly quarterback since Tony Smith threw for 231 in 2010.
Moraga was the catalyst of several big plays including a 74-yard pass to junior wide receiver Willie Tucker in the fourth quarter that helped set up Stanford’s touchdown scamper.
Tucker, Cal Poly’s leading receiver in the Mustangs’ run-based offense, caught a career-high seven passes for 113 yards.
The Cal Poly defense also helped the offense’s cause by forcing two fumbles recovered by senior linebacker Xavier Ramos and senior Kyle Maddux. Ramos led the team in with 13 tackles while senior defensive tackle Sullivan Grosz recorded a team-high two sacks.
Senior quarterback Mason Mills led the San Diego offense completing 29 of 36 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
The Mustangs head to Fresno State Saturday for their first of two matchups against Mountain West Conference schools this year. Kickoff inside Bulldog Stadium is set for 7 p.m.