Who said the Mustangs couldn’t pass?
After the No. 14 Cal Poly Mustangs (4-2) seemed like they were developing a one dimensional rushing offense, they threw for 212 yards through the air against Old Dominion, fueling a 50-37 win last Saturday.
All year, the Mustangs had never passed for more than 200 yards in a game, but against the Monarchs, the passing game opened up.
Quarterback Andre Broadous connected on 75-yard touchdown pass to Dominique Johnson in the first quarter to give the Mustangs a 17-7 lead. In the second, Broadous connected on another long touchdown strike, a 44-yard pass to Mark Rodgers.
Through Broadous’ last two starts, he had managed to compile 97 yards in the air. With his two touchdown passes, he had surpassed that total by 22 yards.
Overall, he finished 11 for 14 for 212 yards and two scores.
His favorite target was Johnson, who caught six passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. The performance was the former UCLA transfer’s best game of the season. Coming into 2010, Johnson looked to be the Mustangs’ key receiver on the field, but has struggled to find consistency in Cal Poly’s offense. As the rushing yards have gone up, Johnson’s numbers have decreased.
Before Saturday, he hadn’t hauled in more than 62 yards or five receptions all season.
But with Johnson and the rest of the Mustangs’ success through the air, it’s not to say that Cal Poly didn’t stick to its rushing attack.
In the fourth quarter with the Mustangs leading Old Dominion 27-20, Broadous found pay dirt on a two-yard touchdown run to put the Mustangs up 34-20.
After the two teams exchanged field goals, Broadous scored on another run from eight yards out, to put the Mustangs ahead 44-30.
Fullback Jake Romanelli then put the game out of reach with another rushing touchdown, scoring on a 35-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. The score capped a 23-point fourth quarter for the Mustangs.
In the game, the Mustangs racked up 326 yards rushing.
Running back David Mahr led the Mustangs with 156 yards on the ground and a score. Jake Romanelli added 74 yards and a touchdown.
As a team, the Mustangs pieced together 538 yards of total offense.
Defensively, linebacker Marty Mohamed tallied a career-high 16 tackles against the Monarchs. He also forced a fumble and recovered it in the fourth quarter.
Cornerbacks Nico Molino and Asa Jackson combined for 18 tackles, with each racking up nine tackles and an interception.
For Old Dominion, Thomas DeMarco led the team in rushing and passing. He ran for 47 yards on the ground, while managing to go 28 of 57 through the air for 327 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions.
Prentice Gill finished with a team-high 133 yards receiving for a passing attack that had seven receivers catch multiple passes.
The Mustangs continue their road trip next week against Southern Utah, their final game of their five-game road stretch.