6-6
Northern Colorado
1-11
Cal Poly Finishes 6-6 Following 42-14 Victory at Northern Colorado
11/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
GREELEY, Colo. – Senior fullback Akaninyene Umoh scored three times and senior safety Alex Hubbard scored Cal Poly's first touchdown by kickoff return in 11 years as the Mustangs wrapped up a 6-6 football season with a 42-14 Big Sky Conference victory over Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon at Nottingham Field.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Brown (right) rushed for 101 yards and completed 10 of 16 passes for 129 yards, accounting for three touchdowns, as Tim Walsh completed his fifth season as head coach of the Mustangs with a .500 record and a 5-3 Big Sky mark for a fourth-place tie with Montana State, Southern Utah and UC Davis.
Northern Colorado lost its 11th straight game since a season-opening win against Langston, finishing the year 1-11 overall and 0-8 in conference games.
After a scoreless first quarter, Cal Poly scored three touchdowns in the second period for a 21-0 halftime lead.
Umoh caught a 16-yard scoring pass from Brown as Cal Poly converted a pair of fourth-and-one plays to keep a 90-yard drive alive, then Umoh ran three yards for another score in a 64-yard drive that featured a 36-yard pass from Brown to redshirt freshman Carson McMurtrey.
Ten seconds before halftime, tight end Austin Albison made his second touchdown catch of the season, a one-handed grab with his right hand on a 22-yard connection with Brown. That 48-yard drive was set up by senior defensive tackle Sullivan Grosz's first interception as a Mustang.
Cal Poly was held to just one first down and 36 yards in the first quarter before exploding for 195 total yards, 12 first downs and 21 points in the second period.
Each team scored a touchdown in the third period as Cal Poly maintained its 21-point cushion at 28-7.
Courtney Hall returned an interception 36 yards for a Northern Colorado touchdown and Cal Poly answered with a two-yard run by Brown capping a 71-yard drive.
In the fourth quarter, Umoh ran two yards for a Mustang touchdown on a drive ignited by Hubbard's fourth career interception.
Will Jefferson caught a 27-yard pass from Seth Lobato for another Bear touchdown and Cal Poly answered quickly with Hubbard's 94-yard kickoff return up the right sideline.
Cal Poly's previous kickoff return for a score was a 98-yarder by Darrell Jones against Southern Utah on Oct. 12, 2002.
Cal Poly accumulated 466 yards in total offense for the game, 307 on the ground and 159 in the air, while holding Northern Colorado to 334 total yards (100 on the ground).
Ivory finished with 85 yards, giving him 1,113 yards for the season, and along with McMurtrey caught three passes.
Tromaine Dennis rushed for 88 yards for Northern Colorado while Lobato completed 22 of 34 passes for 206 yards and one score. Austin Wilburs caught seven passes and Dimitri Stimphil six for the Bears.
Linebacker Cameron Ontko logged 17 tackles and Johnny Millard, another linebacker, added 15 for Cal Poly. The four Mustang interceptions were recorded by Hubbard, Grosz, Millard and Nick Dzubnar.
Cal Poly, which was 3-3 at home and 3-3 on the road this season, converted on five of six fourth-down plays Saturday and 14 for 23 (61 percent) this season, 30th best in the FCS.
Cal Poly football is presented by French Hospital Medical Center.
Team Stats
CP 7, NC 0
CP - Akaninyene Umoh 16 yd pass from Chris Brown (Stephen Pyle kick) 15 plays, 90 yards, TOP 5:53
CP 14, NC 0
CP - Akaninyene Umoh 3 yd run (Stephen Pyle kick), 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:53
CP 21, NC 0
CP - Austin Albison 22 yd pass from Chris Brown (Stephen Pyle kick) 6 plays, 48 yards, TOP 0:55
CP 21, NC 7
NC - Courtney Hall 48 yd interception (Jesse Holzmer kick)
CP 28, NC 7
CP - Chris Brown 2 yd run (Stephen Pyle kick), 8 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:50
CP 35, NC 7
CP - Akaninyene Umoh 2 yd run (Stephen Pyle kick), 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:32
CP 35, NC 14
NC - Will Jefferson 27 yd pass from Seth Lobato (Jesse Holzmer kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:00
CP 42, NC 14
CP - Alex Hubbard 94 yd kickoff return (Stephen Pyle kick)
