Cal Poly Offense Beats Defense 59-42 in Annual Spring Game

Courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Four touchdowns and a pair of long field goals helped the offense (Green) defeat the defense (White) 59-42 in Cal Poly’s annual Spring Game on Saturday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

Fullback Jake Romanelli and quarterbacks Tony Smith and Andre Broadous all scored touchdowns on runs while Broadous also connected with Eric Gardley on a 60-yard touchdown pass.

Senior Jake West, despite missing a pair of extra-point kicks, booted field goals of 44 and 45 yards for the Green squad, which also collected 28 first downs.

The White team recorded three four-and-outs (three points each), held the offense to a pair of no-scoring drives and also picked up points for a pair of interceptions and fumble recoveries.

Johnny Millard and Darryl Williams recorded the interceptions while Sullivan Grosz and Nick Leyden recovered Green fumbles – Leyden returning his fumble recovery 10 yards for a touchdown.

“I thought we were much more effecient offensively than in last year’s Spring Game (won by the defense),” said second-year Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh. “The quarterbacks protected the ball and finished most of their drives. We are more mature as a group of people on offense.”

All six quarterbacks were used by the Mustang coaching staff. Broadous was the most effective as he completed all four of his pass attempts for 91 yards and one touchdown. The sophomore-to-be also carried the ball 14 times for 74 yards and another score.

Returning starter Tony Smith completed two of six passes for 12 yards and was intercepted once; he also rushed nine times for 15 yards.

Doug Shumway was 4-for-8 for 16 yards and Duke deLancellotti, Ken Johnston and Vince Moraga also called signals for the Mustang offense.

The Mustangs showed a new wrinkle with the addition of a shotgun formation.

“We still are a triple-option team, but you will see a lot more shotgun,” said Walsh, “and we’re still going into fall camp with Tony and Andre battling it out. The shotgun will present more problems for the opposition.

“We still need to grow offensively, but we’re trying to take advantage of what Tony and Andre can do with the shotgun spread,” Walsh added. “I think the quarterback and slotback positions will be the most competitive positions in fall camp.”

In addition to Broadous, Cal Poly’s top rushers were freshman slotback Fred Gaines with three carries for 55 yards and junior slotback Jarred Houston with four carries for 39 yards. Junior slotback Blake Page added 43 yards on four trips.

Eleven different Mustangs caught passes, led by Houston with four receptions for 22 yards and Gardley with two catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Senior punter Chris Pinto averaged 41.6 yards on five punts.

Leading tacklers on defense were freshman linebacker Johnny Millard with eight (five solo) and linebacker Quentin Greenlaw with seven (all solo). Williams finished with six stops. Sacks were recorded by Karl Winkelman, Joe Brum and Sullivan Grosz.

“Defensively, I thought we showed today that we now have more depth up front,” Walsh noted.

The Mustangs open Fall Camp in early August and Cal Poly kicks off the 2010 season Sept. 4 against Humboldt State at 6:05 p.m. in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.