Quarterback Tony Smith passed for 1618 yards last year, just 342 less than Jonathan Dally in his senior season. - Nick Camacho Mustang Daily

It may be less than a month before football season starts, but the biggest question surrounding the Cal Poly football team is still unanswered.

Will it be quarterback Andre Broadous or Tony Smith who leads Cal Poly’s offense come September?

As the team awaits head coach Tim Walsh‘s decision in their first week of practice, either Smith or Broadous will be trying to help a program rebound from one of the worst seasons of the decade — at least on paper.

Cal Poly went (4-7) last season, finishing at the bottom of the Great West. The Mustangs couldn’t win a single game on the road and finished outside of the national polls for the first time since 2003 — while also suffering their first losing season since 2002.

“It’s a team game and it’s about winning,” Walsh said. “We are going to try to do the best thing that’s going to give this team the opportunity to win as many games as it can.”

In some eyes, there really shouldn’t be a debate. Last season, it was the job of Smith, a man who led his team last season against opponents like San Jose State, Sacramento State and Ohio, while throwing for 1618 yards — just 342 less Jonathan Dally in his senior season — in 11 starts. Not to mention, he will be heading into this season as a senior.

“Tony, he knows the game really well. I mean he knows all his checks, he knows all his audibles, and he is real smart with the ball,” Broadous said. “He is a great student of the game.”

Yet the job of a starting quarterback is never safe. Standing behind him is Broadous, a player who — whenever he starts — may have one of the most highly anticipated debuts in recent years. At Grant High School, the Oregon native racked up 6,000 yards of total offense in his junior and senior seasons combined. His style mirrors the prototypical triple-option quarterback — a shifty runner with tons of speed and moves that will make fans stand on their feet.

“Playmaker,” starting cornerback Asa Jackson said. “That’s the first thing that comes to my mind when you see (Broadous). He is one of those guys that you have to account for running the ball on every single play. And that’s a killer.”

At his — or Smith’s — disposal will be eleven offensive players who started at least five games last year. Returning will be most of the offensive line, wide receiver Dominique Johnson and fullbacks Jake Romanelli and Jordan Yocum among others. Not to mention potential playmakers K.J. Cusack and Mark Rodgers could creep their way onto the field to make some noise.

But regardless of whatever offensive personnel the Mustangs throw onto the field, it is going to take a team effort to get past last season’s numbers. Defensive playmakers like Asa Jackson, linebacker Kenny Jackson and linebacker Marty Mohamed are going to try to help this team rebound as well — on the other side of the ball.

“This year, this team is going to be a huge defensive factor,” Mohamed said, “ I am going to make sure of that. This defense is going to be one of the best defenses in the entire nation. As a leader and the defensive captain I am going to make sure that everything we do as a defense is perfect… we are not going to quit.”

Mohamed may have his work cut out for him. Eight defensive starters return from last year’s squad, but last season’s defense was an over-worked group decimated by injuries. It was a defense who gave up over 30 points in four games and more than 400 yards of offense on six occasions, while also letting four halftime leads slip and turn into losses.

“I look back at last season, if there was one disappointment it was that we as a program had, we didn’t finish,” Walsh said. “And in the game of football, with the schedule that we play, if we don’t start well and we don’t finish well, we’re going to struggle.”

Cal Poly plays two home games to start the season, but may not have full attendance due to the academic calendar. By the time fall quarter begins, Cal Poly will be in the third week of its season. In week two, Cal Poly will face off against Montana — a team who went undefeated a year ago and rode their hot hands all the way to the FCS championship, falling to Villanova 23-21.

Three weeks after that, Cal Poly will travel to Fresno State — a usual WAC contender who very well could have a strangle hold on the crown on the conference if Boise State were out of the picture — in the third game of a five game road trip.

Then the Mustangs return home for three of their last four games and host rival UC Davis in the final game of the 2010 season.

Opponents aside, Cal Poly will be aiming for one thing come September. There will be no talk of national championships, national rankings, or all-conference teams — the only thing Walsh wants his team to focus on is where they stand come November.

“Our goal period, end of statement, is to win the Great West,” Walsh said. “We are not going to look past that. If we go above and beyond that that’s great, but our job this year is to win the Great West championship, beat UC Davis here on the last week of the season and whatever happens after that happens.”

Tony Smith passed for 1,619 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Photo by Nick Camacho- Mustang Daily

At the start of spring practice, there is no solid leader for the Mustangs starting quarterback position. The most glorified position on the football field has become a guessing game for Cal Poly.

Will it be Tony Smith, or Andre Broadous?

A year ago, the passing offense Smith commanded was under scrutiny. Incompletion after incompletion, he and the passing game struggled to get on their feet. But Wednesday afternoon, tight spirals and accurate throws came from the quarterback who many questioned. After starting for a year, Smith has a season full of experience against Division-I defenses. Last spring, Smith had a new offense to learn under a revamped coaching staff. This spring, Smith knows the offense, he has seen what works in games, he knows where the big play is going to be.

“Now we have a good idea of who we are and what type of players we have — we have an idea on what can make us successful. I think we are ready to execute,” Smith said.

With learning the X’s and O’s out of the way, Smith can focus on the little things.

“It’s just football now,” Smith said. “I know I can come out here and work. I know the things that I have to work on. I feel good.”

During the first day of spring practice, Smith walked around the field with swagger. He held his chin high — it was his day to prove that he has what it takes to lead the Mustangs.

“This year, coming back, I can already see it today,” cornerback Asa Jackson said. “(Smith) was throwing the ball, slinging it around, looking good, putting the ball on the money, I can see (what he can be) — and I’m excited.”

Completion after completion, his performance didn’t go unnoticed — he impressed head coach Tim Walsh.

“I think Tony had a great practice today and we want to see what he can do when he puts the pads back on,” Walsh said.

But the position is not unanimously his. Standing in his shadow is Andre Broadous — a former Oregon State Player of the Year waiting to grab hold of the starting quarterback position. Broadous racked up 6,000 yards of total offense at Grant  High school in 2006 and 2007. Last season, he saw limited playing time and didn’t accumulate many stats.

“I’m athletic, and we run the triple-option here, so that works towards my strengths as a quarterback,” Broadous said. “I just got to get the mental part down, adjusting the plays at the line of scrimmage, learning the offense, being a leader on and off the field — all the other intangibles besides the physical ones.”

Still, Walsh isn’t sold on a starting quarterback. It is either Smith, the experienced veteran who knows the offense well and has the numbers, or Broadous, the inexperienced athlete who has the intangibles to be your prototypical triple-option quarterback.

“Day one, without pads on, (Smith) demonstrated some of the things we wanted to see him do to continue to stay at quarterback. On the same hand, we saw (Bradous) do some of the same things he needs to improve upon in order to be the quarterback,” Walsh said.

Each wants to become the starter; neither wants to spend his season on the bench. Walsh plans to use that to both players’ advantage. He said he is going to let the competitiveness of both players help him decide the starter.

“We want to make that position as competitive as we possibly can, for our team’s growth but also push those two guys to be the two best players that they can be,” Walsh said. “I think that’s as good competitive spirit to have.”

Each player has the skill set that the other wants. Smith wants to improve an aspect of his game Broadous possesses: athleticism.

“I want to become a better factor in the run game,”  Smith said. “I feel my training in the offseason has prepared me for that. I just need to do more of an explosive player, which I feel that I can be.”

Broadous seeks to improve an aspect of his game that Smith utilizes, awareness.

“I have a good arm,” Broadous said. “I have the ability to make all the throws in this offense. I don’t think the physical part is the problem for me right now … (Smith) picked up to the offense faster than I did. He has more of the mental game than me.”

For now, Smith looks like he will end up at the top of the depth chart, but Broadous is not going to sit back quietly.

“I’m hungry,” Broadous said. “I want to start.”

Over the past five weeks Cal poly has thrown for 212 yards per game. Quarterback Tony Smith has passed for 849 yards in those games. Photo by Nick Camacho- Mustang Daily

Weber State forced Cal Poly’s potent offense to five turnovers in the first round of FCS playoffs last year. Quarterback Jonathan Dally threw a career-high five interceptions, one turnover less than the Mustangs had all year.

The Mustangs fell to Wildcats 35-49 in their final game of the 2008 season.

For the second consecutive year Weber State will be the final contest in the Cal Poly football season as the Mustangs (4-6) travel to take on the Wildcats (6-4) this Saturday.

Heading into the last week of the season, all post-season scenarios for the Mustangs are out the window, but the Wildcats still have a chance for a playoff spot.

“We’re going to try and disrupt what they’re trying to do,” Walsh said at Monday’s press conference. “ If they think they’re a playoff team, let’s go beat a playoff team.”

The Mustangs saw their streak of six-straight winning seasons end with a loss against South Dakota last week. The loss came despite Cal Poly’s best offensive output of the season. The Mustangs posted 48 points with 533 yards of total offense in their home finale.

But, the Mustangs also allowed a season high 50 points and 553 yards against them.

The Mustangs had been undefeated at home before last week’s loss and has yet to win a road game this season.

After starting the season 0-2, the Wildcats have gone 6-2 over the past eight games and remain alive in the race for an at-large playoff berth.

Led by junior quarterback Cameron Higgins the Wildcats average 29 points-per-game. Higgins has passed for 2,784 yards with 24 touchdowns this season.

Leading receivers Nick Toone and Mike Phillips combined for 1,499 yards receiving. Toone was named National and Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week with his 181 all-purpose yards in a 29-7 over Northern Arizona last week.

Leading rusher Trevyn Smith has rushed for 872 yards this season.

Cal Poly’s defense has struggled recently against the pass. Last week South Dakota quarterback Noah Shepard passed for 413 yards against a Mustang defense trying to get pressure on him.

“When you bring pressure you better get there,” Walsh said. “Because if you don’t it not fair to the players in coverage. Right now we’re not getting there and I think that’s making us a little gun-shy on how much we want to (blitz). ”

Cal Poly surrendered three plays of 35 yards or more that ended up in scores. Since lining up against South Dakota State, the Mustangs have allowed a total of 162 points excluding a contest against Dixie State, with a 32.4 point per game average.

“I don’t think we’re playing as fast on defense as we’ve played (earlier this season),” Walsh said. “(Against South Dakota we played) at a whole different speed than we are right now and I think that has a lot to do with the wear and tear of the season.”

Offensively Cal Poly showed flashes of a very dominant passing game. Quarterback Tony Smith connected on 24-of-35 passes for 407 yards and six scores — all career highs.

His number one target last Saturday was junior wide receiver Dominique Johnson who caught 13 passes for 273 yards and a school-record five touchdowns.

“He may have the best hands that I have ever had the opportunity to be around,” Walsh said. “We (challenged him) to make some plays and he made plays in the course of that game.”

In the past three weeks, the Mustang rushing attack hasn’t been effective as it has been during the course of most of the season.

Over the span of the past three weeks the Mustang rushing game has averaged 122 yards per game. In those games, Cal Poly has a 0-3 record. In their four wins this season Cal Poly has averaged 217 yards on the ground per per game.

Weber State has allowed 151 yards per game on the ground this season.

Kickoff is set for 11:05 a.m. Saturday at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah.

Last year, Cal Poly held arguably one of the most prolific offenses in school history. Photo by Nick Camacho- Mustang Daily

In 1972 No. 3 Cal Poly locked horns with No. 6 North Dakota for the NCAA West College Football Championship in the 12^th annual Camellia Bowl.

In front of the largest crowd of all regional bowls that year, Cal Poly became the victim of an underdog upset and was etched into North Dakota’s record books as their 10^th win that season.

It was one of the few times in the school’s history that Cal Poly made it to a championship game; the Mustangs ended the season with no reward.

This Saturday at the Alerus Center, No. 16 Cal Poly (4-3, 1-0 Great West) squares off against Great West foe North Dakota (3-4, 1-1) in the hunt for FCS supremacy.

With four games to go in the season, the Mustangs are set on making a run at the playoffs.

Since the FCS championship was installed in 1978, no team with 4 losses has held the championship trophy; unless the Mustangs can change history, they will need to run the table into the postseason.

Fullback Jake Romanelli said the team is treating every game as a playoff game.

“We can still win the Great West championship, and go all the way into the playoffs with a full head of steam,” he said.

Last year, Cal Poly held arguably one of the most prolific offenses in school history. Averaging nearly 45 points a game and 480 yards of total offense, Cal Poly was crowned Great West champion and placed in a matchup against Weber state in the first round of the postseason. Turning the ball over only six times all year, they turned the ball over five times against Weber State and fell short 49-35 in first round.

Another season filled with expectation turned to one with no reward.

Cal Poly has yet to be named Football Championship Subdivision champion, but this year’s team can remain in the hunt if head coach Tim Walsh and the Mustangs can overcome the injuries that have plagued them all season to fend past the Fighting Sioux this weekend.

With multiple players hurt on the offensive line, including several running backs, Cal Poly is out of sync.

“We don’t have continuity in who plays and who practices,” Walsh said.

While the injuries have hurt the Mustangs, Cal Poly’s depth has allowed them to remain competitive despite a schedule that included two games against Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

Behind the behemoths in the trenches, including true freshman tackle Giovanni Sani, the Mustangs continue to bounce around the top of the nation in rushing statistical categories.

The Mustangs boast the 10^th ranked rushing offense in the FCS (206.86 y/gm) and also rank 10^th in the FCS in time of possession (32.50 min/gm). Cal Poly’s offensive line has allowed .71 sacks per game and is tied for 4^th in the FCS.

Over the past two weeks, the Mustangs have proved that they hold a fourth option in their triple option rushing attack—sophomore fullback Jake Romanelli.

Romanelli stumbled his way into some action after starting fullback Jordan Yocum was injured. He tallied his first career 100 yard game and touchdown against Southern Utah and rumbled for 96 yards against Dixie State.

“When your name is called upon, you have to be ready to step up,” Romanelli said.

The sophomore is just one of six Mustangs who have accumulated over 100 yards on the ground this season.

“You have to assignment sharp and you have to be fast with this type of (offense),” North Dakota head coach Chris Mussman said during an interview on fightingsioux.com.

His defensive scheme will be the same scheme that Cal Poly struggled against this past weekend—the 3-4.

In the Mustangs’ first time playing the 3-4 this season against Dixie State, they were only able to muster 178 yards rushing, their worst total all year.

“It’s good to have a week of practice and have some live situations (against Dixie State), but (this week) we need to improve on some things,” quarterback Tony Smith said.

This season North Dakota has allowed 222 points on defense, exactly 70 points more than Cal Poly, through seven games (31 PPG average).

Junior strong safety Joel Schwenzfeier leads North Dakota in tackles, tackles for loss and interceptions. Cornerback Dominique Hawkins, who is also high up on the tackle list, tallied a career high 12 tackles last week against Southern Utah.

Offensively, North Dakota holds a star in wide receiver Ismael Bamba. The sophomore set a new career high against South Dakota with 141 yards receiving on six catches. That was the 41^st-best receiving game ever by a North Dakota player. He also held a three-game streak of over 100 yards receiving this season.

“(Bamba is) a wide-receiver that could probably play anywhere in the country,” Tim Walsh said.

Feeding him the ball is quarterback Jake Landry has thrown for 1281 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Both will line up against a Mustang defense that salivates for turnovers.

The Mustang defense is ranked fifth in the FCS in turnover margin (+1.71 per game) and is tied for fourth in the FCS in turnovers gained and fifth in FCS in interceptions.

“With all our goals on the table going into the final stretch of the season (this is) a huge game this week against North Dakota,” quarterback Tony Smith said.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PST Saturday.

Quarterback Tony Smith passed for over 100 yards and tallied four total touchdowns against Dixie State. Photo by Nick Camacho-Mustang Daily

For some, a .500 record, a 30-point one-sided victory would be impressive. But Cal Poly football head coach Tim Walsh still sees room for improvement in his team.

The Mustangs (4-3, Great West Conference) were able to lay Dixie State (4-5) to rest 44-14 Saturday night, but Walsh wasn’t focused on the 297 total yards and four touchdowns that the offense pieced together in its highest-scoring showcase this season.

“Offensively (there were) too many bumps in the road.We (have to) play a lot better down the stretch if we’re going to achieve the goals that we set for ourselves,” he said.

The opposition may have been questionable; Dixie State has been a Division II school for two years, making the jump from a community college in 2006.

But with the passing game struggling thus far, the team was happy to see quarterback Tony Smith connect on more than half his throws and amass four touchdowns, two through the air and on the ground.

Smith, however, said there was much to be desired in how the team played Saturday.

“Honestly I think we played OK; I don’t think we played breakout at all,” Smith said.

The defensive and special teams play that Cal Poly’s other sides of the ball put forth, once again.

In front of 9,231 fans in Alex G. Spanos Stadium, the Mustang defense caused four turnovers and held its opponent scoreless until 3:13 was left in the third quarter.

“(On defense and special teams) I thought we were dominant,” Walsh said.

In 3:07 Cal Poly was able to mount 21 points at the start of the second half. Smith’s one-yard touchdown run, set up by a 59-yard punt return by cornerback Asa Jackson, a punt block returned for a touchdown and a fumble return for a touchdown sent the game from a close-sided affair into a blowout.

“It was a good defensive effort today … lots of times I was looking (behind me) and I was seeing one of our guys get the ball,” linebacker Carlton Gillespie said.

Gillespie was just one of many Mustang defenders who pitched tents in the Red Storm backfield. He finished with four tackles, three for losses, and a forced fumble.

“The guys on the (defensive line) did a great job on making those lanes huge, and I was able to run through them,” he said.

However, in the midst of victory came some bad news. The injury bug that has plagued the Mustangs all season struck again.

“We lost another offensive lineman. We’re not playing with what we started (the season) with,” Walsh said. “Guys are going to have to realize that when they prepare in practice, they better be prepared to play, because anybody might play,” he said.

Slot back Jaymes Thierry did not suit for Saturday’s game and slot back Jon Hall was sidelined with a knee injury. Fullback Jordan Yocum, who was ruled out last week with a hip bruise, saw limited playing time, splitting carries with Jake Romanelli.

Romanelli led the Mustangs in rushing with 62 yards and Yocum fell behind him with 30. The Mustangs rushed for 103 net yards — their lowest rushing total all season.

That number could be a bit misleading, because for one of the few times this year, the passing offense established a rhythm.

Five different Mustangs finished the game with a catch: Jarred Houston and Dominique Johnson both recorded multiple. Johnson reeled in a 73-yard bomb from Smith for a touchdown in the first half, the longest toss and catch recorded this season.

With the Mustangs’ win Saturday, Cal Poly inched one step closer to a playoff berth. Only one team made the FCS playoffs last year yielding four losses, so each game is a must-win.

“We know what’s at stake. Our goal is obviously to win conference and go to the playoffs, and in order to do that, we need to win out,” Smith said.
Cal Poly will have a conference battle against North Dakota in the Alerus Center this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

Cal Poly senior defensive lineman Ryan Shotwell sacks freshman quarterback Andre Broadous on Saturday. Photo by Nick Camacho / Mustang Daily

Cal Poly showed off its 2009 football squad under new head coach Tim Walsh during its Spring Game Saturday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

The defense out-dueled the offense and won 29-28. The inter-squad game had some suspense to go along with it. The winner of the game, that matched up the Mustangs’ defense against their own offense, wasn’t decided until the clock had already run out.

Down by two, Cal Poly’s defense stopped the offense on the final play for three points and the victory. The clock read 00:00 before the play was called, but in the relaxed atmosphere of the Spring Game, the offense was able to finish their drive despite the clocks countdown.

It didn’t matter because the defense was able to come up with the stop regardless. On fourth down, junior quarterback Tony Smith threw an incomplete pass that was intended for senior running back Jaymes Thierry.

The defense was proud of their resilient performance to come back and win after falling behind their counterpart.

“They had a nice lead there, but we kept on pounding away and closing the gap,” senior strong safety David Fullerton said. “You can’t expect anything more from us than a game that comes down to the final play; that’s the competition you want.”

Cal Poly’s offense moved the ball 70 yards on the opening drive that ended in a five-yard touchdown pass from Smith to junior fullback Jordan Yocum. Junior kicker Jake West converted the extra-point kick, giving the offense a quick lead over the defense.

The offense scored a pair of touchdowns and a field goal, an improvement from last week’s one-touchdown and single-field-goal performance.

After last week’s scrimmage, Walsh was frustrated with the inconsistency of the offense, but was pleased to see some progress.

“I thought there was more (consistency), but I think we have to be more consistent then that to be honest,” Walsh said. “I think at times today we showed spurts and seconds that we can play.”

However, there seems to be no question that the heart and soul of this team is going to come from the defensive end.

“Our defense is really savvy,” Fullerton said. “But our offense is coming up there.”

The transition from last year’s offensive emphasis to this year’s defensive priority is to be expected as the offense lost seven starters in the off-season. Whereas the defense will be returning eight veteran starters.

According to Walsh, it doesn’t matter from which end the leadership will come because the character of the football team has what it takes to be successful.

“The most important thing is that these guys know how to win and they know how to play hard,” Walsh said. “Those are two things that you can’t teach.”

On the defensive end, the speed of defensive linebackers Eric Klemme and Kenny Jackson stood out as they got to the quarterback twice, recording a sack each.

“We’re based on speed,” freshman linebacker Jackson said. “We’re not always the biggest guys out there, but our speed kills.”

On the offensive end, Smith stood out and Yocum led the team in rushing with 39 yards on 12 carries. On a day when not many passes were completed, Joshua Swaney caught a 34-yard pass from senior quarterback Harlan Prather, leading the offense to the second touchdown of the game.