CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

Northern Colorado at Cal Poly

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Cal Poly beat Northern Colorado 24–⁠17. It was their eighth meeting; after it, Cal Poly led the series 7–⁠1.

AwayNorthern Colorado0–⁠11 in 2023
17
HomeCal Poly3–⁠8 in 2023
24

Final at Alex G. Spanos Stadium, San Luis ObispoTV: ESPN+Attendance 9,263

At kickoff
70°F, clear, wind 16 mph from the northwest, gusts to 23 mphWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; San Luis County Regional Airport (KSBP), 7 km from the stadium
Official
Kelly HolmanGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Northern Colorado737017
Cal Poly7100724

Player stats

Northern Colorado

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Jacob Sirmon7/148811
RushingCarYdsTDLong
David Afari1052010
Jacquez Robertson327020
Darius Stewart31709
Zain Zinicola1303
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Blake Haggerty239025
Jamarii Robinson128028
Ty Arrington110010
Zain Zinicola2614

Cal Poly

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Sam Huard20/2822812
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Mark Biggins838111
Kendric Sanders63509
Troy Fletcher1202
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Bryson Allen568019
Tyrece Fairly-Diyem450024
Giancarlo Woods338018
Dominique Thompson127027

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Northern ColoradoCal Poly
189Total yards292
88Passing yards228
101Rushing yards64
6.3Yards per pass8.1
4.6Yards per rush3.8
9First downs18
4–⁠8Third downs0–⁠4
0–⁠0Fourth downs1–⁠1
2Turnovers2
4–⁠18Penalties0–⁠0
14:13Possession18:28

Efficiency

Northern ColoradoCal Poly
49%Success rate60%
0.15EPA per play0.10
0.99Explosiveness0.84
0.17Rushing EPA0.19
0.40Passing EPA0.44
43%Passing-down success20%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Cal Poly 63% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

Northern Colorado −2.5, over/under 55.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Every drive

Cal Poly end zoneNorthern Colorado end zoneQ1 Northern ColoradoTouchdown, 12 playsQ1 Cal PolyPunt, 5 playsQ1 Northern ColoradoPunt, 3 playsQ1 Cal PolyPunt, 3 playsQ1 Cal PolyTouchdown, 3 playsQ1 Northern ColoradoField goal, 9 playsQ2 Cal PolyTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 Northern ColoradoPunt, 3 playsQ2 Cal PolyField goal, 12 playsQ2 Northern ColoradoPunt, 3 playsQ2 Cal PolyInterception, 7 playsQ2 Northern ColoradoInterception, 3 playsQ3 Cal PolyInterception, 7 playsQ3 Northern ColoradoResult not recorded, 3 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Cal Poly drives left to right, Northern Colorado right to left. Our source’s drive data for this game doesn’t add up to the final score, so a score may be missing here; the scoring by quarter above is complete.
  1. Q1 Northern ColoradoTouchdown, 12 plays, 75 yards
  2. Q1 Cal PolyPunt, 5 plays, 0 yards
  3. Q1 Northern ColoradoPunt, 3 plays, 75 yards
  4. Q1 Cal PolyPunt, 3 plays, −25 yards
  5. Q1 Cal PolyTouchdown, 3 plays, 24 yards
  6. Q1 Northern ColoradoField goal, 9 plays, 53 yards
  7. Q2 Cal PolyTouchdown, 9 plays, 75 yards
  8. Q2 Northern ColoradoPunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
  9. Q2 Cal PolyField goal, 12 plays, 74 yards
  10. Q2 Northern ColoradoPunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
  11. Q2 Cal PolyInterception, 7 plays, −8 yards
  12. Q2 Northern ColoradoInterception, 3 plays, 69 yards
  13. Q3 Cal PolyInterception, 7 plays, 0 yards
  14. Q3 Northern ColoradoResult not recorded, 3 plays, 69 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Tied at 7
Northern Colorado Touchdown, 12 plays
15:00Noah Serna kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:571st & 10 at own 25David Afari run for 9 yds to the UNCO 34
14:332nd & 1 at own 34David Afari run for 10 yds to the UNCO 44 for a 1ST down
14:111st & 10 at own 44Jacob Sirmon run for 3 yds to the UNCO 47
13:372nd & 7 at own 47Jacob Sirmon pass incomplete
13:173rd & 7 at own 47Jacob Sirmon pass complete to Blake Haggerty for 25 yds to the CP 28 for a 1ST down
12:151st & 10 at opp 28Jacob Sirmon pass incomplete
11:392nd & 10 at opp 28Jacquez Robertson run for 5 yds to the CP 23
11:143rd & 5 at opp 23Jacob Sirmon pass complete to Ty Arrington for 10 yds to the CP 13 for a 1ST down
10:481st & 10 at opp 13David Afari run for 7 yds to the CP 6
10:292nd & 3 at opp 6David Afari run for no gain to the CP 6
10:123rd & 3 at opp 6David Afari run for 4 yds to the CP 2 for a 1ST down
9:371st & goal at opp 2Zain Zinicola 2 Yd pass from Jacob Sirmon (Hunter Green Kick)Northern Colorado 7, Cal Poly 0
Cal Poly Punt, 5 plays
9:37Hunter Green kickoff for 62 yds
9:281st & 10 at own 16Mark Biggins run for 8 yds to the CP 24
9:122nd & 2 at own 24Sam Huard pass complete to Bryson Allen for 7 yds to the CP 31 for a 1ST down
8:421st & 10 at own 31Mark Biggins run for 2 yds to the CP 33
8:082nd & 8 at own 33Sam Huard pass complete to Mark Biggins for 1 yd to the CP 34
7:273rd & 7 at own 34Sam Huard pass incomplete
7:244th & 7 at own 34Jesse Ehrlich punt for 41 yds, fair catch by Blake Haggerty at the UNCO 25
Northern Colorado Punt, 3 plays
7:211st & 10 at own 25David Afari run for 7 yds to the UNCO 32
6:332nd & 3 at own 32Jacob Sirmon run for 1 yd to the UNCO 33
5:483rd & 2 at own 33Hank Gibbs run for no gain to the UNCO 33
5:124th & 2 at own 33Hunter Green punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Xavier Oliphant at the CP 25
Cal Poly Punt, 3 plays
5:101st & 10 at own 25Troy Fletcher run for 2 yds to the CP 27
4:352nd & 8 at own 27Sam Huard pass incomplete
4:213rd & 8 at own 27Sam Huard sacked by Sam Iongi-Amituanai and Vincent King for a loss of 12 yards to the CP 15
3:454th & 20 at own 15Ryan Collins punt for 61 yds
Cal Poly Touchdown, 3 plays
3:261st & 10 at opp 24Sam Huard pass complete to Bryson Allen for 19 yds to the UNCO 5 for a 1ST down
2:551st & goal at opp 5HUARD, Sam pass short to the left incomplete intended for WOODS, Giancarlo thrown to the UNC0, clock 02:55. PENALTY UNC Pass Interference on GILLIS, Nathaniel enforced 3 yards to the UNC2 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
2:471st & goal at opp 2Mark Biggins run for 1 yd to the UNCO 1
2:092nd & goal at opp 1Timeout Cal Poly, clock 02:09
2:062nd & goal at opp 1Mark Biggins run for 1 yd for a TD (Noah Serna KICK)Tied at 7
Northern Colorado Field goal, 9 plays
2:06Noah Serna kickoff for 60 yds
1:501st & 10 at own 37Jacob Sirmon pass complete to Fisher Clements for 5 yds to the UNCO 42
1:122nd & 5 at own 42Jacob Sirmon pass complete to Blake Haggerty for 14 yds to the CP 44 for a 1ST down
0:511st & 10 at opp 44Darius Stewart run for 9 yds to the CP 35
0:152nd & 1 at opp 35David Afari run for 3 yds to the CP 32 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:541st & 10 at opp 32Jacob Sirmon pass complete to Jamarii Robinson for 28 yds to the CP 4 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:211st & goal at opp 4Jacob Sirmon pass incomplete Northern Colorado Penalty, Intentional Grounding (Jacob Sirmon) to the CP 10
Q2 14:162nd & goal at opp 10Jacob Sirmon pass incomplete
Q2 14:163rd & goal at opp 10Jacob Sirmon pass incomplete
Q2 14:114th & goal at opp 10Hunter Green 27 yd FG GOODNorthern Colorado 10, Cal Poly 7
2nd quarter6 drives, then Cal Poly 17, Northern Colorado 10
Cal Poly Touchdown, 9 plays
14:11Hunter Green kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:101st & 10 at own 25Kendric Sanders run for 9 yds to the CP 34
13:432nd & 1 at own 34Kendric Sanders run for 7 yds to the CP 41 for a 1ST down
13:181st & 10 at own 41Sam Huard pass complete to Tyrece Fairly-Diyem for 5 yds to the CP 46
12:462nd & 5 at own 46Sam Huard pass complete to Michael Briscoe for 16 yds to the UNCO 38 for a 1ST down
12:121st & 10 at opp 38Kendric Sanders run for 3 yds to the UNCO 35
11:372nd & 7 at opp 35Sam Huard pass incomplete
11:333rd & 7 at opp 35Sam Huard pass incomplete
11:214th & 7 at opp 35Sam Huard pass complete to Dominique Thompson for 27 yds to the UNCO 8 for a 1ST down
10:461st & goal at opp 8Sam Huard pass complete to Logan Booher for 8 yds for a TD (Noah Serna KICK)Cal Poly 14, Northern Colorado 10
Northern Colorado Punt, 3 plays
10:46Noah Serna kickoff for 57 yds
10:341st & 10 at own 30David Afari run for 7 yds to the UNCO 37
10:022nd & 3 at own 37Darius Stewart run for 1 yd to the UNCO 38
9:303rd & 2 at own 38Jacob Sirmon pass incomplete
9:304th & 2 at own 38Hunter Green punt for 55 yds, fair catch by Xavier Oliphant at the CP 7
Cal Poly Field goal, 12 plays
9:181st & 10 at own 7Mark Biggins run for 5 yds to the CP 12
8:492nd & 5 at own 12Mark Biggins run for 11 yds to the CP 23 for a 1ST down
8:131st & 10 at own 23Sam Huard pass complete to Giancarlo Woods for 16 yds to the CP 39 for a 1ST down
7:491st & 10 at own 39Mark Biggins run for 7 yds to the CP 46
7:182nd & 3 at own 46Sam Huard pass complete to Michael Otterstedt for 6 yds to the UNCO 48 for a 1ST down
6:361st & 10 at opp 48Sam Huard pass complete to Tyrece Fairly-Diyem for 12 yds to the UNCO 36 for a 1ST down
6:191st & 10 at opp 36Kendric Sanders run for 9 yds to the UNCO 27
5:552nd & 1 at opp 27Kendric Sanders run for 3 yds to the UNCO 24 for a 1ST down
5:121st & 10 at opp 24Sam Huard run for 1 yd to the UNCO 23
4:402nd & 9 at opp 23Sam Huard pass complete to Giancarlo Woods for 4 yds to the UNCO 19
3:583rd & 5 at opp 19Sam Huard pass incomplete
3:564th & 5 at opp 19Noah Serna 36 yd FG GOODCal Poly 17, Northern Colorado 10
Northern Colorado Punt, 3 plays
3:56Noah Serna kickoff for 60 yds
3:461st & 10 at own 28David Afari run for 1 yd to the UNCO 29
3:062nd & 9 at own 29Darius Stewart run for 7 yds to the UNCO 36
2:403rd & 2 at own 36Northern Colorado Penalty, False Start (Austin Lawrence) to the UNCO 31
2:163rd & 7 at own 31Jacquez Robertson run for 2 yds to the UNCO 33
2:084th & 5 at own 33Timeout Cal Poly, clock 02:08
2:064th & 5 at own 33Hunter Green punt for 59 yds, downed at the CP 8
Cal Poly Interception, 7 plays
1:531st & 10 at own 8Sam Huard pass complete to Tyrece Fairly-Diyem for 9 yds to the CP 17
1:202nd & 1 at own 17Sam Huard pass complete to Bryson Allen for 10 yds to the CP 27 for a 1ST down
1:081st & 10 at own 27Sam Huard pass complete to Paul Holyfield Jr. for 2 yds to the CP 29
1:022nd & 8 at own 29Sam Huard pass complete to Paul Holyfield Jr. for 4 yds to the CP 33
0:543rd & 4 at own 33HUARD, Sam pass deep to the left incomplete intended for BRISCOE, Michael thrown to the UNC30, clock 00:54. PENALTY UNC Holding on LEWIS, Tizell enforced 10 yards from the CPM33 to the CPM43 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
0:501st & 10 at own 43Sam Huard pass complete to Bryson Allen for 17 yds to the UNCO 40 for a 1ST down
0:391st & 10 at opp 40Sam Huard pass complete to Bryson Allen for 15 yds to the UNCO 25 for a 1ST down
0:181st & 10 at opp 25Sam Huard pass intercepted
Northern Colorado Interception, 3 plays
0:111st & 10 at own 31Jacob Sirmon run for 4 yds to the UNCO 35
0:102nd & 6 at own 35Timeout Northern Colorado, clock 00:10
0:032nd & 6 at own 35Jacquez Robertson run for 20 yds to the CP 45 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 45Jacob Sirmon pass intercepted
3rd quarter2 drives, then Tied at 17
Cal Poly Interception, 7 plays
15:00Hunter Green kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:571st & 10 at own 25Mark Biggins run for 3 yds to the CP 28
14:182nd & 7 at own 28Sam Huard pass complete to Giancarlo Woods for 18 yds to the CP 46 for a 1ST down
14:041st & 10 at own 46Sam Huard pass complete to Michael Otterstedt for 8 yds to the UNCO 46
13:332nd & 2 at opp 46Kendric Sanders run for 4 yds to the UNCO 42 for a 1ST down
13:031st & 10 at opp 42Sam Huard pass incomplete
12:562nd & 10 at opp 42Sam Huard pass complete to Tyrece Fairly-Diyem for 24 yds to the UNCO 18 for a 1ST down
12:191st & 10 at opp 18Sam Huard pass intercepted, touchback.
Northern Colorado Result not recorded, 3 plays
12:131st & 10 at own 20David Afari run for 4 yds to the UNCO 24
11:402nd & 6 at own 24Zain Zinicola run for 3 yds to the UNCO 27
10:563rd & 3 at own 27Jacob Sirmon pass complete to Zain Zinicola for 4 yds to the UNCO 31 for a 1ST down

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Northern Colorado–Cal Poly game

Cal Poly leads 8–⁠2 in 10 meetings, counting the two since this game.

Recent meetings
2026Northern Colorado 28, Cal Poly 18
2024Cal Poly 28, Northern Colorado 7
2023Cal Poly 24, Northern Colorado 17
2019Cal Poly 28, Northern Colorado 21
2017Northern Colorado 42, Cal Poly 0
2016Cal Poly 55, Northern Colorado 48

Around this game

Northern Colorado

Cal Poly

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 8