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Hey look, a rematch! We actually have prior information about how these teams play against each other. Hooray! Cal Poly led just 17-13 at the half in the first meeting, but dominated the second to win 38-16. Unfortunately for the 'Stangs, they aren't currently playing as well as they were in September. They also have terrible pass defense and easily the worst special teams in the Big Sky. On the other hand, San Diego is certainly the best Pioneer squad to make the playoffs and probably the best overall PFL team since Jim Harbaugh was the Toreros' coach. I don't think they're likely to win this, but Cal Poly is vulnerable enough to make it plausible.

Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:

• • • Quarterbacks -- Cal Poly
      
      Running Backs - Cal Poly
      
      Receivers/TEs - San Diego
      
      Offensive Line - Cal Poly
      
      
      Defensive Line - San Diego
      
      Linebackers --- Cal Poly
      
      Secondary ---- San Diego
      
      
      Kicking ------ (push)
      
      Punting ------ San Diego
      
      Return Teams - San Diego
      
      Kickoffs ------ San Diego
      
      
      
      
      
      • San Diego 24-35 Cal Poly

I expect to see Poly in the Fargodome next Saturday.

Cow Poly by 3

San Diego up 14-0 early

Cal Poly returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, but San Diego just answered to take a 21-14 lead.

Toreros are dominating yardage, but have 3 turnovers. CP doesn't even have 100 yards yet.

Things looking dire for Cal Poly now after a 5-yard TD catch by Brian Riley.

28-14 Toreros; 13:09 4Q

CP fails on 4th. down around midfield.

Uh oh. Cal Poly with a pick-six.

28-21 San Diego; ≈8:00 4Q

Poly fumbles just past midfield. Less than 4:00 left now…

A couple passes set up a 4-yard rush TD for Hodges. Game over.

35-21 Toreros; 2:23 4Q

Sweet mother of God. Are you kidding me here? The same team that put up 42 on the Griz only got 21 on USD?

The Big Sky is so effing overrated this year. Losing to a Pioneer league team should NEVER happen. NEVER.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:A couple passes set up a 4-yard rush TD for Hodges. Game over.

35-21 Toreros; 2:23 4Q

Now a final.

Thanks, Poly.

Are we still allowed to complain about the PFL being allowed in the playoffs?

AZGrizFan wrote:Sweet mother of God. Are you kidding me here? The same team that put up 42 on the Griz only got 21 on USD?

The Big Sky is so effing overrated this year. Losing to a Pioneer league team should NEVER happen. NEVER.

Cal Poly peaked in September. Unfortunately, that's when the Griz played them.

A lot of coaches are probably gonna look at this one to see what USD did defensively. CP didn't even have 200 yards, I don't think.

That was outstanding and good for FCS. San Diego actually dominated Cal Poly to an extent greater than the score indicated. A long kickoff return and a pick 6 kept Cal Poly in the game.

It was great to see a "they don't belong" team show that they belong like that. Comes down to what I love about a playoff system like this one. You're an FCS conference? Your champion gets an automatic bid if it wants won and what people THINK beyond that point doesn't matter. You win your conference and you're in the playoffs.

Pwns wrote:Thanks, Poly.

Are we still allowed to complain about the PFL being allowed in the playoffs?

Perhaps we should complain about the Big Sky being allowed in....

Pwns wrote:Thanks, Poly.

Are we still allowed to complain about the PFL being allowed in the playoffs?

No. And you never should have been complaining. That's the way a playoff system should work. Establish criteria for a league being in the subdivision. If a league is in the subdivision and it wants to participate its champ is in. Period. Take friggin' opinion out of it to the greatest extent possible.

There's still opinion with respect to at large berths. But a system in which every team in any conference that WANTS to participate controls its own destiny is the way it should be.

Just give San Diego credit guys. They kicked ass. It shouldn't have been as close as it was.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Pwns wrote:Thanks, Poly.

Are we still allowed to complain about the PFL being allowed in the playoffs?

Perhaps we should complain about the Big Sky being allowed in....

You're only saying that because your team sucks and didn't make it in.

Also, Cal Poly...WTF, over?

Fight Toreros! Fight Toreros! On to Victory!

So proud of this team, no matter what happens next week.

On to the FargoDome!

Please.

I watched Cal Poly this year.

One dimensional...and with a QB worse than UNI.

Football is about match ups. When the Big Fluffy sends out one dimensional teams, the results are predictable.

Sure, San Diego surprised everyone to an extent...but Cal Poly was seriously flawed.

In reality, the first round games were ridiculous. Only UCA won by a TD or less, but they dominated the MVFC entrant after ILl St took a 17-7 lead. Wasn't close after that.

Fun times ahead.

EWURanger wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Perhaps we should complain about the Big Sky being allowed in....

You're only saying that because your team sucks and didn't make it in.

Also, Cal Poly...WTF, over?

Dude, face the facts. When's the last time any Big Sky team outside of EWU or Montana did anything in the playoffs?

EWURanger wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Perhaps we should complain about the Big Sky being allowed in....

You're only saying that because your team sucks and didn't make it in.

Also, Cal Poly...WTF, over?

Surely, you jest.

AZGrizFan wrote:

EWURanger wrote:
You're only saying that because your team sucks and didn't make it in.

Also, Cal Poly...WTF, over?

Surely, you jest.

And the rolls of Cluck and AZ being played by John Cusack...

San Diego Football wrote:Fight Toreros! Fight Toreros! On to Victory!

So proud of this team, no matter what happens next week.

On to the FargoDome!

Congrats! Looking forward to seeing a new face in Fargo next Saturday.

Are you coming up for the game?