SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (November 26, 2016) – San Diego didn’t fare well in its 2014 playoff debut against a Big Sky member, but the script changed as the program entered its second #BigSkyFB playoff matchup, against Cal Poly.
The Toreros fell in their 2014 game at Montana, 52-14, but came back with a vengeance against the Mustangs, taking an early 14-0 lead. In spite of a Cal Poly charge midway through the game, the Toreros sealed their first playoff win, 35-21, and earned a second-round matchup with North Dakota State.
San Diego opened the game with a 73-yard drive, getting on the board after only five plays, and 1:23 elapsed on the clock. The Toreros added to that, taking a 14-0 lead into the second quarter. However, two straight Joe Protheroe touchdown runs tied the game for the Mustangs, with Protheroe evening the score at 14-14 just 15 seconds into the first half.
Like earlier in the game, San Diego scored twice more, and appeared to be headed towards a back-breaking score, when Toreros quarterback Anthony Lawrence threw an interception. That interception was returned 63-yards for a touchdown by Kelly Shepard, giving the senior defensive end a score, and cutting the deficit to a single score.
However, Lawrence responded well, leading the Toreros on a six-play, 58-yard drive, to seal the game. The critical play came on a third-down conversion, with San Diego converting 11-of-19 third downs on the day, compared to Cal Poly’s 5-of-13.
Cal Poly had three turnovers in the game, along with a pair of turnovers-on-downs. Mustangs fullback Joe Protheroe finished with 122 rushing yards and a pair of scores.
Chattanooga 45, Weber State 14 – The Weber State Wildcats entered the FCS postseason for the first time since 2009, with momentum and energy, after breaking a long playoff drought.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn’t sustain the momentum throughout the game, falling 45-14, to the Chattanooga Mocs, in the opening round of the FCS playoffs.
Weber State turned the ball over five times, including two interceptions and a 99-yard fumble recovery. Chattanooga led 17-0 towards the end of the first half, when Weber State was about to score. However, the Wildcats turned the ball over on the one-yard line, as Chattanooga’s Montrell Pardue went 99 yards for a score, and a 24-0 lead.
The Wildcats got their first score when Stefan Cantwell found Tui Satuala for a 21-yard score, towards the end of the third quarter. Then, Jadrian Clark found Andrew Vollert, the Big Sky’s Newcomer of the Year, for a 31-yard score in the latter part of the fourth quarter.
Weber State football finishes the season with a record of 7-5, after finishing solo third in the Big Sky Conference.