Photo courtesy of Mr. Albertson
The Mustangs defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 91-26 on Saturday in San Diego, adding a league win to their belt as a double-header weekend is next.
“It was good — a solid bounce-back game,” head coach Chris O’Brien said. “I thought the team play was really strong.”
The Mustangs were stingy on defense and methodical in attack, running multi-phase possessions throughout the first half on their way to a five-try lead, 35-0.
View more photos here, courtesy of Mr. Albertson
“The goal was defensive shape,” O’Brien said. “Coming off Cal, we spent a lot of time on our defensive structure. The other focus was attacking shape.” O’Brien said the team’s selflessness in attack was a positive aspect — something they also worked on in the lead up to the match.
“The guy who makes the pass to finish a try is my hero,” O’Brien said. “Not the guy who scores.” That was exemplified within the first few minutes, when Dean Hall had a line break and found Tyler Hoffman in support for the team’s first points: “picture-perfect rugby.”
O’Brien noted the performance Saturday could have been even better if it weren’t for several handling errors.
The Aztecs notched their first points early in the second half, answering Cal Poly’s score seconds earlier, and followed it up with an 80-meter interception for a score off what appeared to be an errant Coby Baker pass.
Cal Poly matched that with one of their own — the Mustang defensive line shooting up quickly off an Aztec scrum, and the outside center tipping the ball to himself before dotting down the ball for the score. Wing Troy Fletcher would snag another minutes later, that one roughly 65 meters to up the score to 63-21 with about 17 minutes left to play.
A handful of long-distance tries late would extend the lead. Cal Poly’s B-side would also defeat the Aztecs
Up next, the Mustangs have a double-header in San Luis Obispo. The first match on Saturday, Jan. 31 is against Santa Clara. On Sunday, Feb. 1, Western Washington visits; a team O’Brien says is likely the top in D1AA.
“I don’t put much emphasis on the opponent — I put all the emphasis on Cal Poly Rugby,” O’Brien said. “Every day, we want to be better players and better teammates, and that’s how you become a better team.”
Kickoff times will be announced at a later time.