Seven years ago Cal Poly came to the Alerus Center as the #16 team in the country and left with a 31-17 loss to UND.  On Saturday, Poly again arrived in Grand Forks as the #16 team in the country and once again went back to California with an ‘L’.  This time it was 31-24.

Rumors

Once again, UND effectively shut down the “option” phase of the triple option and made the Mustangs go to a passing attack for it’s big plays.

This was a unbelievably huge win for UND in many ways.  They are now 2-0 in the Big Sky.  They are 3-2 overall.  They added a high-quality win to their resume that might have been lacking if Poly had not knocked off SDSU and Montana earlier in the year.

  • UND outgained Poly in rushing 203-202.  Nobody, and I mean nobody, thought that was even remotely possible.  Poly led the country in rushing coming into this game (362 per game).
  • UND won the time of possession battle 32-28.  Again, a shocking stat considering Poly usually rules in TOP.  They also had more first downs (24-21) and ran more plays (67-65) than the ball control Mustang offense.
  • UND had 3 penalties for 25 yards on Saturday.  Yes.
  • Those two fumbles inside the 10 yard line in the first half were absolute killers.  The route was on if UND punches both of those in.  Instead, they head to the locker room up 10-7 and feeling bad about it.  The offense cannot continue to shoot itself against good competition.  Very disappointing on both turnovers.
  • QB Keaton Studsrud was solid in this game.  15-21 for 249 yards and 2 TD’s.  We only say ‘solid’ because he flat-out missed a few throws that were not that difficult.  He missed a critical bubble throw to Stanley late in the 4th quarter that not only would have likely went for a first down, but it also stopped the clock.  Overall a good performance, though, by the junior QB.  His best of the year.
  • Studsrud was in command of the game at the line of scrimmage from the first snap.  It appeared that UND may have simplified the game plan a bit and that seemed to help Studsrud and his offensive line (more on them later).  Keaton did a wonderful job of checking to the correct play at the line once the Mustang defense tipped their hand (see Oliveira’s long TD run).
  • Besides the fumble at the three yard line, RB Brady Oliveira was an absolute beast again this week.  20 rushes for 132 yards and 1 TD.  His top-end speed is and always has been underrated because of his size.  For the second week in a row, he broke through the second level of the defense and did not get caught.  He is showing nice speed to go with his power running style this year.  It was needed with the loss of John Santiago on the second play of the game.
  • Speaking of Santiago, it sounds as if he should return this year and even sometime soon, possibly.  It appeared to be a lower ankle injury.  Obviously not ideal but to hear he could come back this season is promising to say the least.
  • Third string RB Austin Gordon got some major clock in this one due to Santiago’s injury and really impressed.  He showed very good speed and cutting ability in route to 65 yards on 9 carries.  We are excited for his future.
  • The UND offensive line turned in its best performance of the year.  Beside the fact they created massive holes on a consistent basis, QB Keaton Studsrud had all day back there to survey the field and find his young WR’s.  Studsrud was never sacked, never knocked down or even hurried in this game.  The pass protection was an A+.
  • OL coach Luke Knauf sent center Michael Coe out to right tackle to replace Mat Cox, who is done for the year with a knee injury (unfortunately because Cox was playing good ball and worked his tail off to earn that spot).  Freshman Patric Rooney filled in at center, then.  Other than an errant snap over Studsrud’s head, Rooney had a solid game.  He did get an ankle injury late that forced UND to move Grant Aplin from guard to center and bring in Demon Taylor to right guard, once again.  We believe Rooney should be OK.
  • True freshman WR Noah Wanzek took his turn at having a big game this week.  5 catches for 52 yards and 1 TD.  The TD catch was a thing of beauty as he went up over the defender in the back of the end zone and kept his foot in while securing it.  One thing we have noticed with Wanzek is his hands are extremely strong when catching the ball.  The goes up and gets it and pretty much always comes down with it.
  • It is possible that UND will only have two RB’s out in Sacramento next week.  That tells us FB Kyle Norberg would be the emergency RB in case disaster strikes.  A wildcard in the scenario is WR Alex Reed, who has played RB in the past.
  • DC Eric Schmidt had another nice game plan for the Cal Poly triple option.  UND effectively took away the 2nd and 3rd options of the T.O.
  • At halftime the Mustangs had 64 yards rushing.
  • At times when Poly went with their traditional option formation of two wing backs and a FB, it appeared UND made an adjustment and moved one of their OLB’s around to the middle of the field.  He just free-flowed wherever the ball went.
  • In the second half Poly made a nice adjustment by giving the ball to the dive back (#35) over the ‘B’ gap instead of the ‘A’ gap.  They widened the midline handoff and were able to create bigger holes that way.  In the first half there was nothing there for the dive part of the option.
  • The Mustang offense also did some things in the second half we had never seen before when they hit #24 Kori Garcia on the swing passes for big gainers out of the backfield.  Definitely some wrinkles added for this game.
  • QB Dano Graves is a total difference maker for the Mustang offense.  If Poly had their QB’s of the past in this game they would have lost by 20-30 points.  Graves can throw the ball and throw it well.  He ended the day 15-21 for 219 yards and 3 TD’s.  He did throw two poor interceptions but his third TD pass at the end of the game was a beautiful throw that only his WR could get.
  • Overall, secondary play against the pass was below average at best.  It shouldn’t be that difficult to get over the top of post routes against the “complex” Poly passing game.  Way too many big plays.  The quick 98 yard drive by Poly in the 4th quarter was unacceptable.  Sometimes, pass interference penalties aren’t a bad deal.
  • Poly picked on UND’s true freshman cornerbacks Evan Holm and Torrey Hunt throughout the game.  With as well as Deion Harris is playing opposite them it really wasn’t a surprise.  Montana State did the same thing the week before.  Hunt has been a yo-yo so far this season – too much up and down.  He needs to be more consistent but is obviously green.  Holm is finally getting some playing time and experience, so his learning curve will be a little longer.  Those two just need reps.
  • NG Tank Harris had an outstanding game.  The NG is a vital position vs. the triple option because they can clog up the ‘A’ gap, all while keeping the center off the inside linebackers.  Tank made seven tackles in the game, which is huge from a position that gets double teamed alot.  The way he dominated in there at times reminded us of the old days with Mark Callahan and Scott Schultz at nose guard.
  • DE Brandon Dranka was very active and made a couple nice TFL’s, shooting in to tackle Graves as he ran down the line.
  • Safety Zach Arnell came up with another INT, his second in two weeks.  CB Torrey Hunt also got his second INT in two weeks to clinch the game in the back of the end zone.
  • The last play call by Poly to pass it off the fake toss was peculiar.  They were running the ball decent to the perimeter in the second half and with it only being 3rd and goal on the two yard line we for sure thought they would run it.  Give OLB Jake Disterhaupt credit for not getting fooled and being in Graves face to force the throw quicker than he wanted.  If Graves throws it to the fullback #35 in the flat it’s a TD.
  • Have we mentioned this year how good punter Austin Dussold has been so far?  3 punts, 46 yard average, 2 inside the 20, no return yards.  Another fantastic day for him.
  • Freshman tight end Alex Cloyd has to play more.  His pulled redshirt against South Dakota has been a waste so far to date.  Halfway through the year, hopefully his reps begin to increase.

 

Feature Image courtesy of:  Jesse Trelstad/Grand Forks Herald.  http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/4127509-und-football-fighting-hawks-upset-no-16-cal-poly