Cal Poly defense dumps Jackrabbits

Saturday, October 3

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

South Dakota State University

3-1

Cal Poly

2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota State

Cal Poly

10/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly scored two defensive touchdowns, including a fumble recovery in the end zone with 2 minutes, 9 seconds remaining in the game, to defeat South Dakota State, 21-14, in a battle of nationally ranked teams Saturday night.

The 17^th-ranked Mustangs evened their record at 2-2, while 15^th-ranked SDSU dropped to 3-1 overall. The game was played before a crowd of 10,331 at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

The Jackrabbits turned a turnover into points in posting the first score of the game. Conrad Kjerstad intercepted a long Tony Smith pass at the Jackrabbit 3-yard line and returned the ball to the SDSU 25. Facing third-and-3, SDSU quarterback Ryan Crawford hit Mike Steffen on a slant across the middle for a 60-yard gain to the Cal Poly 8. Two plays later, Kyle Minett scored from a yard out, extending his streak of games with a touchdown — rushing or receiving — to nine games.

Cal Poly knotted the game at 7-all early in the second quarter. On the first play of the quarter, Smith hooked up Eric Gardley on a 38-yard pass that set up the Mustangs first and goal from the SDSU 2. The Jackrabbit first-string defense then surrendered its first touchdown of the season as David Mahr found the end zone from two yards out.

SDSU regained the lead midway through the second half, but it proved to be a costly scoring drive. On third-and-9, Crawford was hit at his knees as he threw, but managed to complete a 35-yard pass to Glen Fox.

Thomas O'Brien came on to replace an injured Crawford, but SDSU then turned to its version of the wildcat offense. Tyrel Kool gained 20 yards on two carries and Minett again found paydirt from nine yards out to put the Jackrabbits up 14-7 after Peter Reifenrath's second extra-point of the game.

The Mustangs tied the game moments later as an O'Brien pass went off the hands of Colin Cochart and into the waiting arms of Asa Jackson, who returned the ball 47 yards for a touchdown.

The game remained tied at 14 at intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter, Cal Poly recorded the decisive score in the waning moments of the game. After the Mustangs downed a punt at the SDSU 8, Marty Mohamed stripped O'Brien on the first play of the drive and Carlton Gillespie fell on the ball for the touchdown.

SDSU took over at its own 36 and advanced the ball to midfield before Scottie Cordier ended the Jackrabbits' hopes of a comeback with an interception. The Mustangs proceeded to run out the clock.

O'Brien finished the game 13-of-22 passing for 98 yards with two interceptions. Crawford completed 5-of-10 attempts for 118 yards before exiting. Fox recorded five catches for 64 yards, with Cochart adding five receptions for 35 yards.

Minett led the running attack with 56 yards on 17 carries. Kool added 43 yards on five attempts.

For Cal Poly, Smith completed 13-fo-24 attempts for 131 yards. David Mahr led the Mustangs with five receptions for 35 yards and Jaymes Thierry paced a balanced rushing game with 57 yards on 12 carries.

Cal Poly held a 333-305 advantage in total offense and limited the Jackrabbits to 14 first downs. The Mustangs controlled the clock, holding a nine-minute advantage in time of possession — 34:48 to 25:12 — and converted 9-of-17 third-down attempts.

SDSU, which came into the game ranked fifth in the Football Championship Subdivision in third-down conversions at 51 percent, converted only 4-of-13 attempts.

The game featured 15 punts. Jackrabbit punter Dean Priddy averaged 40.9 yards on eight attempts.

Cole Brodie recorded a career-high 12 tackles to lead the Jackrabbit defense. Kjerstad and Chris Johnson each notched nine stops.

Mohamed led the Mustangs with 13 tackles, including two for loss.

SDSU returns to Missouri Valley Football Conference action Oct. 10 at Missouri State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Plaster Field in Springfield, Mo.

Notes: Cal Poly leads the all-time series, 4-2 … SDSU dropped to 8-18 against ranked opponents since moving to the FCS level in 2004 … Minett moved into eighth place on the Jackrabbit career rushing chart with 2,190 yards, moving past both Joe Thorne (2,156 yards from 1959-61) and Paul Klinger (2,161 from 1990-94) … Fox moved into a tie with Lionel Macklin (1977-79) for 10^th place in career receptions at SDSU with 113 … Kjerstad's interception was the seventh of his career … with a scoreless third quarter, SDSU has allowed only three points in the third quarter this season