Mustangs look to improve record at Idaho State

Cal Poly (4-3, 1-1 Great West), which erased an 0-2 start with four straight victories before falling to South Dakota State on Saturday, plays the third of four consecutive games on the road Saturday, visiting Idaho State (3-4, 2-3 Big Sky) for a non-conference contest. Kickoff in Holt Arena (capacity: 12,000) in Pocatello, Idaho, is set for 2:05 p.m. PDT.

The Mustangs, who lost their first two games of the season for the first time since 2002, beat Weber State, Western Oregon, Northern Colorado and UC Davis. But the Mustangs lost two fumbles deep in South Dakota State territory and had a field goal attempt blocked as well. The Jackrabbits turned all three miscues into touchdowns en route to a 48-35 Great West win.

Cal Poly, ranked No. 19 in the Sports Network poll and No. 20 in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll last week, is unranked this week. Idaho State defeated Portland State 38-20, taking advantage of six turnovers and scoring 28 third-quarter points to erase a 10-7 halftime deficit.

The Mustangs had the advantage in numerous offensive categories, including first downs (25-20) and total offense (502-433), but couldn’t overcome the pair of lost fumbles deep in South Dakota State territory, the blocked field goal attempt in the third quarter and Cory Koenig’s 259 yards on 30 carries and four scores. Adam Monke returned the game-opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown as South Dakota State never trailed. Junior quarterback Jonathan Dally ran 22, 4 and 1 yards for Mustang touchdowns and hit Ramses Barden with a 22-yard scoring pass in the final period.

Cal Poly broke one school record and tied another. Andrew Gardner made five PAT kicks, extending his streak of successful kicks to 36 and breaking the mark of 31 set by Navid Niakan in 2001. Barden’s touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the 26th of his career, tying the mark set by Kamil Loud from 1994-97. Cal Poly produced a pair of 100-yard rushers. Dally finished with 153 yards on 30 carries while Ryan Mole added 112 yards on 12 trips. It was the first 100-yard game for both players as Mustangs. Dally completed seven of 15 passes for 115 yards and one score. Barden and Tredale Tolver each caught three passes for Cal Poly. Barden now has career totals of 119 catches (No. 5) for 2,460 yards (tied for No. 2) and 26 TDs (tied for No. 1) at Cal Poly.

Idaho State, coached by John Zamberlin (first season, 3-4, Pacific Lutheran ’79), had lost four of its last five games before defeating Portland State. The Bengals last won the Big Sky title in 2002, captured the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) national title in 1981 and produced 2003 Buck Buchanan Award winner Jared Allen, now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Idaho State has beaten Portland State, Northern Colorado and Southern Oregon while falling to Oregon State, Eastern Washington, Montana State and Northern Arizona.

The Bengals are led offensively by senior running back Josh Barnett (124 carries, 687 yards, 1 TD), freshman quarterback Russel Hill (94-156-12, 1,151 yards, 8 TDs) and junior wide receiver Eddie Thompson (52 catches, 561 yards, 4 TDs). D.J. Clark and Terrance Calloway have returned interceptions for touchdowns while Sterling Mennear and Micah Cloward have returned fumbles for scores this season. Junior linebacker Ryan Phipps has 65 tackles (32 solo), including three sacks.

Cal Poly and Idaho State are meeting in football for the 16th time Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs lead the series 9-6 and have won the last two contests – 35-20 in 2004 at Pocatello and 35-10 in 2005 at San Luis Obispo as James Noble rushed for 248 yards and a school-record five touchdowns. Cal Poly scored 28 unanswered second-half points to overcome a 10-7 halftime deficit.

Cal Poly’s 2006 squad defeated an FBS school (San Diego State), produced a 1,000-yard rusher for the second straight year (James Noble with 1,009 yards), finished with a top-20 national ranking for the fourth straight season (No. 14 in CSN Coaches Poll, No. 16 in Sports Network poll) and was rewarded with its third consecutive Buck Buchanan Award winner (linebacker Kyle Shotwell) and fourth straight American Football Coaches Association All-American (nose tackle Chris White).

Cal Poly has posted four straight winning seasons, won three games by shutout a year ago and has won 37 of its last 54 games dating back to the 2002 season finale.

Cal Poly concludes its four-game road trip next week, visiting Southern Utah for a noon Great West Conference game in Cedar City, Utah.