This past Saturday was very emotional for both the Cal Poly Football seniors and myself. It was our last home football game together in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. We realized that our countless game day rituals on the Cal Poly campus during the past four years were coming to an end. Personally, the feeling was overwhelming the entire day. I thought about it all week: my last home game with my team. Each senior felt that this day came much faster than we expected. The early morning practices, the late night games, and every adventure that we’ve experienced together has been amazing. I’m so blessed that these incredible men and athletes will be my lifelong friends.

My amazing seniors
Poly’s tough opponent last weekend was Eastern Washington University. The Eagles entered the game leading the Big Sky Conference standings, and were also ranked #3 in the FCS national standings. In a hard fought game, the Mustangs lost 35-22.
The Mustangs generated 437 yards in total offense for the game. Entering the fourth quarter, Poly trailed the Eagles by several scores. Fullback Brandon Howe started the Mustangs comeback when he ran 2-yards for a touchdown. At 6:45 in the quarter, slotback Cole Stanford caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cris Brown. Poly then scored its last points for the game when Brown rushed 5-yards for a touchdown. Running back Kristaan Ivory had another solid day by rushing for 88 yards on 14 carries, while catching six passes for 53 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Bijon Samoodi, Johnny Millard, and Cameron Ontko each had nine tackles for the game. They were followed by Alex Hubbard (6), Nick Dzubnar (5), Sullivan Grosz (4), and Nick Leyden (4).
Sullivan Grosz, Cameron Ontko, Nick Leyden, and Andrew Alcaraz each contributed key quarterback sacks for the Mustangs. In addition, Grosz led Poly with 2.5 tackles for loss, while pressuring the Eagles’ quarterback all day. He was joined by Johnny Millard, Cameron Ontko, Nick Dzubnar, Chris Lawrence, Nick Leyden, and Andrew Alcaraz who each contributed tackles for loss.
Cal Poly plays its last game of the 2013 season this Saturday. The team travels to Greeley, Colorado to play Northern Colorado at 11:05 pacific.
Here is a list of the Mustang seniors and their positions:
Bijon Samoodi – Cornerback
Cole Stanford – Slotback
Kenny Johnston – Quarterback
Gabe Umoh – Fullback
Johnny Millard – Linebacker
Xavier Ramos – Linebacker
Matt Reza – Defensive Back
Alex Hubbard – Defensive Back
Vante Smith-Johnson – Defensive Back
Kyle Maddux – Defensive Lineman
Matt Rulon – Fullback
Lefi Letuligasenoa – Offensive Lineman
Grant Goebel – Defensive Lineman
Mike Freeman – Offensive Lineman
Michael Santini – Linebacker
Giovanni Sani – Offensive Lineman
Andrew Alcaraz – Defensive Lineman
Nathanael Petrey – Wide Receiver
Bobby Zalud – Placekicker
Sullivan Grosz – Defensive Lineman
Nick Leyden – Defensive Lineman
Barrett Wangara – Defensive Lineman





The walk down Mustang Way

The Mustang fans go all out for the tailgate parties!

Coach Walsh and captain Johnny Millard

Coach Walsh and captain Cole Stanford

Captain and defensive lineman, Sullivan Grosz

Freshman wide receiver, Cam Akins

Senior captain and linebacker, Johnny Millard

Linebackers Johnny Millard and Nick Dzubnar

Senior quarterback, Kenny Johnston

Junior tight end, Brendan Quinn

Junior tight end, Brendan Quinn

Junior linebacker, Cam Ontko

Junior linebacker, Cam Ontko

Senior defensive back, Bijon Samoodi

Senior quarterback, Kenny Johnston

Sophomore quarterback, Dano Graves

Sophomore quarterback, Chris Brown

Senior quarterback, Kenny Johnston

Senior fullback, Gabe Umoh



Freshman slotback, Kori Garcia

Junior fullback, Brent Michaels

Senior fullback, Gabe Umoh

Junior fullback, Brandon Howe

Senior captain and slotback, Cole Stanford

Senior fullback, Gabe Umoh

Senior fullback, Matt Rulon


Senior defensive back, Bijon Samoodi



Junior linebacker, Nick Moyer

Senior captain and linebacker, Johnny Millard

Freshman wide receiver, Carson McMurtrey


Senior captain and defensive lineman, Sullivan Grosz

Junior linebacker, Nick Dzubnar

Junior linebacker, Cam Ontko


Captains Sulivan Grosz and Cole Stanford

Coach AT with sophomore defensive back, Karlton Dennis

Sophomore linebacker, Tu’uta Inoke




Senior defensive back, Bijon Samoodi and his family

Senior captain Cole Stanford hugs Coach Walsh

Senior captain and slotback Cole Stanford gives his mom flowers

Senior quarterback Kenny Johnston and his parents

Coach Pat Johnston, his wife Meg, his daughter Scarlett, and his brother Phil accompany his youngest brother Kenny during the senior ceremony

Senior fullback Gabe Umoh with his family

Senior captain and linebacker, Johnny Millard with his family

Senior linebacker, Xavier Ramos hugs Coach Walsh

Senior linebacker Xavier Ramos with his family

Senior defensive back Matt Reza with his parents

Senior defensive back Alex Hubbard with his family

Coach Walsh talks to Vante Smith-Johnson’s mother

Senior defensive back, Vante Smith-Johnson and his mother

Senior defensive lineman Kyle Maddux and his family

Senior fullback Matt Rulon and his family

Senior offensive lineman, Lefi Letuligasenoa and his family

Senior defensive lineman Grant Goebel and his family


Senior offensive lineman Mike Freeman and his family

Senior linebacker Michael Santini and his family

Senior offensive lineman, Giovanni Sani and his family

Senior offensive lineman, Andrew Alcaraz and his family

Senior wide receiver Nathanael Petrey and his family

Senior wide receiver Nathanael Petrey and his mother

Senior placekicker Bobby Zalud and his family

Senior captain and defensive lineman, Sullivan Grosz and his mother

Senior captain and defensive lineman, Sullivan Grosz and his parents

Senior captain and defensive lineman Sullivan Grosz with his family

Senior defensive lineman Nick Leyden and his family

Senior defensive lineman Barrett Wangara and his family

Senior defensive lineman Barrett Wangara and his family

Senior captain and linebacker Johnny Millard with a small part of his family

The skydiver is always an exciting part of the Cal Poly football games!

The Cal Poly captains




Captains Lefi Letuligasenoa and Cole Stanford




Junior defensive lineman, Jake Irwin

Junior wide receiver Chris Nicholls

Senior captain and slotback Cole Stanford






Freshman wide receiver Cam Akins

Sophomore quarterback Dano Graves



Senior fullback Gabe Umoh

Junior slotback Kristaan Ivory

Placekicker Bobby Zalud and holder Alex Hubbard


Junior linebacker Nick Moyer







Junior slotback Kristaan Ivory

Sophomore punter Paul Hundley






Cal Poly’s incredible linebacking corp of Cam Ontko, Nick Dzubnar, and Johnny Millard




Senior fullback Gabe Umoh

Freshman slotback Kori Garcia

Sophomore punter Paul Hundley

Sophomore punter Paul Hundley






Senior defensive lineman Grant Goebel

Senior defensive lineman Nick Leyden



Senior captain and slotback Cole Stanford







Senior captain and slotback Cole Stanford



Junior wide receiver Chris Nicholls

Senior defensive back Vante Smith-Johnson




Senior defensive back Bijon Samoodi








Senior captain and slotback Cole Stanford

Sophomore wide receiver Roland Jackson









Sophomore quarterback Chris Brown






Junior fullback Brandon Howe

Sophomore quarterback Chris Brown

Captain Cole Stanford catching a 22-yard pass for a touchdown!

Right after Cole Stanford’s touchdown!






Sophomore quarterback Chris Brown

Sophomore quarterback Chris Brown