1-0
Humboldt St.
0-1
No. 25 Cal Poly Rallies to Beat Humboldt State, 23-17
9/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – No. 25 Cal Poly (FCS Coaches Poll) overcame a 17-7 halftime deficit with two touchdowns and a safety to beat Humboldt State 23-17 in a season-opening college football game Saturday night before 7,345 in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
Slotback Mark Rodgers, who surpassed the 100-yard mark in his first game as a Mustang, scored on a four-yard run and quarterback Tony Smith ran 48 yards for the go-ahead score as Cal Poly, held to five first downs and 107 total yards in the first half, accumulated 13 first downs and 237 yards after intermission.
Humboldt State built its 17-7 first-half lead on an eight-yard pass from Mike Proulx to Dirk Dallas late in the first quarter, a 40-yard field goal by Matt Bruder in the second period and a 29-yard fumble recovery and run by Jonathan Faraimo just before the break.
Cal Poly's only score of the first half was a seven-yard pass from Smith to Rodgers one minute into the second quarter, tying the game at 7-7.
The Mustangs, who surrendered 195 total yards in the first half, held the visiting Lumberjacks off the scoreboard in the second half and just 57 total yards.
A four-yard run by Rodgers closed the gap to 17-14 with 5:54 to play in the third quarter. Smith's career-long 48-yard run with 1:32 to go in the period gave Cal Poly the lead for the first time at 21-17.
Midway through the final period, Humboldt State running back Lyndon Rowells was tackled in the end zone by Mustang defensive tackle James Chen, resulting in a safety and the final points of the game.
The Lumberjacks got the ball back one more time with 5:49 to play at their own 35-yard line and drove 26 yards on six plays before Proulx couldn't connect with Dirk Dallas on fourth down at the Cal Poly 39-yard line.
Rodgers finished with 105 yards on 14 carries and caught two passes for five yards, scoring a touchdown via the run and pass. Fullback Jake Romanelli added 81 yards on 12 rushes while Smith finished with 76 yards on 15 trips.
Smith completed six of 12 passes for 39 yards and the one score to Rodgers. Rodgers, Kellen Moriarty and Mike Anderson each caught two passes for Cal Poly.
Daniel Wyatt led Humboldt State's ground game with 46 yards on 11 carries and Rowells finished with 36 yards on eight trips. Proulx completed 19 of 31 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. Eight Lumberjacks caught passes, led by Rowells with five and Matt Devlin with four.
Cal Poly junior cornerback Asa Jackson led the Mustangs defensively with eight tackles. Kevin Hess recorded the lone sack of the game and Kyle Murphy and Erich Klemme each recovered a Humboldt State fumble.
Eddie Umeh made eight tackles for the Lumberjacks, Elzie Gatson intercepted a Smith pass and Umeh, Faraimo and Michael Lynch each make fumble recoveries.
Cal Poly will host No. 2 Montana next Saturday at 6:05 p.m. in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The Grizzlies, who have finished as national runners-up each of the last two seasons, beat Western State (Colo.) 73-2 on Saturday in Missoula, Mont.
Team Stats
HSU 7, CP 0
HSU - Dallas, Dirk 8 yd pass from Proulx, Mike (Bruder, Matt kick) 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:57
HSU 7, CP 7
CP - Mark Rodgers 7 yd pass from Tony Smith (Jake West kick) 7 plays, 29 yards, TOP 2:55
HSU 10, CP 7
HSU - Bruder, Matt 40 yd field goal 7 plays, 31 yards, TOP 3:31
HSU 17, CP 7
HSU - Faraimo,Jonathn 29 yd fumble recovery (Bruder, Matt kick)
HSU 17, CP 14
CP - Mark Rodgers 4 yd run (Jake West kick), 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:38
HSU 17, CP 21
CP - Tony Smith 48 yd run (Jake West kick), 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:36
HSU 17, CP 23
CP - James Chen 1 yd safety
