Big plays were the way for the Cal Poly football team.
The Mustangs relied on four big plays — plays of at least 20 yards — to score two touchdowns and set up two more in a 28-7 Big Sky Conference win over Northern Colorado on Saturday at Nottingham Field in Greeley.
Cal Poly’s victory in front of more than 4,000 fans spoiled UNC’s Homecoming festivities, and kept the Bears winless in five games this season. The loss extended UNC’s program losing streak to 17 games dating to the last game of the 2022 season.
The Mustangs’ win was their first Big Sky Conference road victory since November 2019 against UNC. Cal Poly defeated the Bears 28-21 on Nov. 23, 2019 at Nottingham Field.
The Bears play at undefeated Montana State next weekend. The Bobcats were 4-0 as of the end of the Cal Poly-UNC game. Montana State was scheduled to play at Idaho State late Saturday afternoon in Pocatello.
Cal Poly (2-2) scored on plays of 95 and 53 yards in the first quarter. Mustangs quarterback Jaden Jones threw a 95-yard touchdown to Michael Briscoe, and Jones went up the middle of the field on the 53-yard touchdown run.
Jones connected with receiver Giancarlo Woods for a 47-yard completion in the third quarter. Four plays later, Richie Watts scored Cal Poly’s third touchdown on a 2-yard run with 4:55 left in the quarter.
Cal Poly back Zion Hall set up the Mustangs’ fourth score with a 29-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
Watts threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Evan Burkhart with 3:20 left in the game.
Cal Poly 28, Northern Colorado 7
Cal Poly — 14 – 0 – 7 – 7 — 28
UNC — 0 – 0 – 7 – 0 — 7
Scoring Summary
1st Q, 5:08 — CP Jaden Jones 95 pass to Michael Briscoe. (Noah Serna kick), CP 7-0. 2 plays, 95 yards, :45 seconds.
1st Q, :01 — CP Jones 53 run (Serna kick), CP 14-0. 7 plays, 92 yards, 3:33.
3rd Q, 8:17 — UNC Kia’i Keone 10 run (Hunter Green kick), CP 14-7. 3 plays, 15 yards, :49.
3rd Q, 4:55 — CP Richie Watts 2 run (Serna), CP 21-7. 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:22.
4th Q, 3:20 — CP Watts 5 pass to Evan Burkhart (Serna kick), CP 28-7. 14 plays, 94 yards, 7:57.