Week 10 - #16 Sac State vs Cal Poly
The 16th ranked Hornets (6-2, 5-0 BSC) host a rebuilding Cal Poly (1-7, 0-5) team that has HC Beau Baldwin in the process of turning over a heavy run triple option roster into a spread aerial attack. Needless to say the Mustangs have struggled mightily in the process. Cal Poly opened the season with a 28-17 win at San Diego, but have only come close to a win a couple weeks ago against the dungpilers, 24-13. Only one other game has been closer than a 3 TD loss and that was last week at PSU, 42-21.
Cal Poly’s offense is from the shotgun with a little bit of Pistol sprinkled in. The Mustangs are dead last in the BSC in scoring offense (13.4 ppg), 12th in total offense (292.4 ypg), last in rush offense (74.9 ypg) and a somewhat manageable 9th in pass offense (217.5 ypg). The amazing part is the play calling is 52%-48% pass to rush, so their offense isn’t overly favoring the aerial attack. Their most effective run play is the speed option. The Mustang offense is led by Cal transfer Spencer Brasch (83/148, 1106 yds, 6 TD, 5 INT, 35 car, 53 yds) who has battled some injuries this season. This offense does a good job of distributing the ball around as 6 players have 10 or more receptions. The WRs are led by Fresno State transfer Chris Coleman (27 rec, 456 yds, 4 TD) and Giancarlo Woods (24 rec, 315 yds, 1 TD). Coleman has big playmaking capabilities. The short but stout Shakobe Harper (82 car, 251 yds, 3 TD) leads the CP rushing attack.
Cal Poly runs a defensive 4-3 set and are last in the BSC in scoring defense (39.5 ppg), 12th in total defense (456.1 ypg), last in rush defense (204.5 ypg) and 9th in pass defense (251.6 ypg). There’s not many positive attributes to give this defensive unit, but they do have more sacks on the year than the Hornets do (16 vs 14). OLB Matt Shotwell (87 tkl, 3 TFL, 1 sack) is the defensive leader and DE Elijah Ponder (27 tkl, 10 TFL, 7 sack, 1 INT) has a knack for getting to the QB.
Cal Poly’s K’s Matt Hoffman (2/3 FG, 1/2 PAT) and Jaden Ohlsen (1/7, 11/11 PAT) have struggled this year. Ohlsen’s lone FG was from 47 yards out and Hoffman has not made a FG beyond 30 yards. CP’s kick returning is in the bottom 3rd of the BSC and their coverage is allowing almost 23 yards a kick.
This game shouldn’t be close if the Hornets show up. CP’s offense would be better if they had a better showing in the trenches as they like to mix in some tempo to catch defenses off guard although the Hornets getting torched by big plays last week is concerning. The Hornet offense should have no problem moving the ball and putting up points if they don’t regress to shooting themselves in the foot with bad penalties. Which reminds me, CP is a very disciplined team and is one of the fewest penalized teams in the BSC. Hornets need to take care of business against these kind of opponents if they want to hoist another BSC title.
Stingers Up!
The 16th ranked Hornets (6-2, 5-0 BSC) host a rebuilding Cal Poly (1-7, 0-5) team that has HC Beau Baldwin in the process of turning over a heavy run triple option roster into a spread aerial attack. Needless to say the Mustangs have struggled mightily in the process. Cal Poly opened the season with a 28-17 win at San Diego, but have only come close to a win a couple weeks ago against the dungpilers, 24-13. Only one other game has been closer than a 3 TD loss and that was last week at PSU, 42-21.
Cal Poly’s offense is from the shotgun with a little bit of Pistol sprinkled in. The Mustangs are dead last in the BSC in scoring offense (13.4 ppg), 12th in total offense (292.4 ypg), last in rush offense (74.9 ypg) and a somewhat manageable 9th in pass offense (217.5 ypg). The amazing part is the play calling is 52%-48% pass to rush, so their offense isn’t overly favoring the aerial attack. Their most effective run play is the speed option. The Mustang offense is led by Cal transfer Spencer Brasch (83/148, 1106 yds, 6 TD, 5 INT, 35 car, 53 yds) who has battled some injuries this season. This offense does a good job of distributing the ball around as 6 players have 10 or more receptions. The WRs are led by Fresno State transfer Chris Coleman (27 rec, 456 yds, 4 TD) and Giancarlo Woods (24 rec, 315 yds, 1 TD). Coleman has big playmaking capabilities. The short but stout Shakobe Harper (82 car, 251 yds, 3 TD) leads the CP rushing attack.
Cal Poly runs a defensive 4-3 set and are last in the BSC in scoring defense (39.5 ppg), 12th in total defense (456.1 ypg), last in rush defense (204.5 ypg) and 9th in pass defense (251.6 ypg). There’s not many positive attributes to give this defensive unit, but they do have more sacks on the year than the Hornets do (16 vs 14). OLB Matt Shotwell (87 tkl, 3 TFL, 1 sack) is the defensive leader and DE Elijah Ponder (27 tkl, 10 TFL, 7 sack, 1 INT) has a knack for getting to the QB.
Cal Poly’s K’s Matt Hoffman (2/3 FG, 1/2 PAT) and Jaden Ohlsen (1/7, 11/11 PAT) have struggled this year. Ohlsen’s lone FG was from 47 yards out and Hoffman has not made a FG beyond 30 yards. CP’s kick returning is in the bottom 3rd of the BSC and their coverage is allowing almost 23 yards a kick.
This game shouldn’t be close if the Hornets show up. CP’s offense would be better if they had a better showing in the trenches as they like to mix in some tempo to catch defenses off guard although the Hornets getting torched by big plays last week is concerning. The Hornet offense should have no problem moving the ball and putting up points if they don’t regress to shooting themselves in the foot with bad penalties. Which reminds me, CP is a very disciplined team and is one of the fewest penalized teams in the BSC. Hornets need to take care of business against these kind of opponents if they want to hoist another BSC title.
Stingers Up!
