UNI football opponent breakdown: Cal Poly

No. 9/11 Northern Iowa goes back on the road for the second time this season, heading to California to face No. 17/18 Cal Poly at 9:30 p.m. (Iowa time). The Panthers go into Alex G. Spanos Stadium to play a team in the opposite mold of its first two opponents, a squad that beat No. 7/8 Montana in their season-opener and gave Arizona State a scare for three quarters.

The Panthers (1-1) and Mustangs (1-1) sport identical records, and each lost to power-5 conference schools in the first two weeks.

Each week we'll have the Panthers' opponents schedule and results, its offensive and defensive outlook, highlight key players and offer a prediction with the help of a beat writer for the opposing team. This week it's Lucas Clark, who covers Cal Poly for The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

CAL POLY SCHEDULE/RESULTS

Sept. 5 at No. 7/8 Montana, W, 20-19

Sept. 12 at Arizona State, L, 35-21

Sept. 19 vs No. 9/11 UNI

Sept. 26 at No. 9/11 Montana State

Oct. 3 vs Idaho State

Oct. 10 at No. 14/15 Eastern Washington

Oct. 24 vs No. 19/20 Portland State

Oct. 31 at Southern Utah

Nov. 7 vs Sacramento State

Nov. 14 at UC Davis

Nov. 21 vs North Dakota

OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK

Throwbacks have become trendy in recent years. Jerseys, clothing, songs, movies, etc. have all seen a boon of old-school looks. If you're really into throwback football, look no further than Cal Poly and its triple option offense. Quarterback Christopher Brown leads a rushing attack that has averaged 307 yards per game in two games this season — one a win against the Montana team that knocked off North Dakota State in Week 1. They deploy a rushing attack led by Brown (77.5 ypg) and fullback Joe Protheroe (121 ypg), with running backs Jared Mohamed (54.5 ypg) and Kori Garcia (39.5 ypg).

This offense will not scare anyone through the air — though Brown had a nice 36-yard touchdown pass against Montana — as the Mustangs have only attempted 21 passes total this season, and Brown is just 8 of 20 for 102 yards in two games. They have an experienced team that will run a team into the ground if allowed, and have several options with which to do so.

From Clark on Cal Poly's offensive outlook:

'Cal Poly returned nine of 11 starters on offense this season and so far the Mustangs have played like it. They haven't had many long, explosive plays, save for Chris Brown's 60-yard touchdown run against Montana during the season opener. With an experienced and seemingly healthy front line, sophomore fullback Joe Protheroe has emerged as the team's leading rusher through two games. He's a big, physical player who loves to run north and south, a perfect fit for Cal Poly's methodical triple-option offense. It will be interesting to see how Protheroe performs against an athletic UNI defense.'

DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK

So far this season, the Cal Poly defense has often been a bend-but-don't-break unit. Despite Arizona State putting 35 points on the board, it was just 21 through three quarters, when it was tied, 21-21, headed into the fourth. The Mustangs have allowed an average of 318 passing yards and 177 rushing yards, meaning the chance certainly exists for a team with a fluid offense to make some ground. But Montana was only able to convert on three scoring drives despite 459 total yards, and Arizona State was pushed nearly to the brink before imposing its Pac-12 will.

Cal Poly gives teams a few different looks on defense, offering both a four-man and three-man front in certain packages. The Mustangs have had to replace key members of the defense, but Coach Tim Walsh has been happy with the progress of new players at linebacker. Injuries are already coming into play, though, as senior Chris Fletcher was injured last week and won't be back this season. That could open up room for the UNI passing game.

From Clark on Cal Poly's defensive outlook:

'The Mustangs have been solid defensively against two talented opponents in Montana and Arizona State. The big question coming into fall camp was how Cal Poly would replace All-American linebackers Nick Dzubnar and Cameron Ontko. So far, the quartet of Tu'uta Inoke, Burton De Koning, R.J. Mazolewski and Joseph Gigantino III has surpassed expectations. However, the defense took a big blow when fifth-year senior cornerback Chris Fletcher broke his leg against Arizona State, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. Fletcher, the son of a former NFL player, was one of the Mustangs' best tacklers and he brought a much-needed veteran presence to Cal Poly's young secondary.'

KEY PLAYERS

Christopher Brown, QB — Sure, sure, the quarterback is an easy pick here. But in the triple option offense, Brown's job is multilayered and certainly not easy. He's been quick with his decisions and sharp on the ground. He has the task of reading the defense and making split-second decisions on where to send the ball. He's not a thrower, but he doesn't really need to be with how the Cal Poly offense has worked.

Tu'uta Inoke, LB — The Mustangs' leading tackler, Inoke has stepped into a leadership role on defense and has exceeded expectations. He has 23 tackles in two games, sharing in one tackle for loss. He's not played a huge role in pass defense, but if UNI opens with Bailey again, his talents stopping the run will very much be needed to stop the potent read-option Bailey is so adept at running.

From Clark on Cal Poly's key players:

'On offense, Joe Protheroe has been a breakout star through the first two weeks of the season. As a freshman in 2014, Protheroe had 29 total carries and he's nearly matched that number in each of Cal Poly's games this year.

'Defensively, senior cornerback Fernando Cabico steps in for Chris Fletcher. Cabico and Fletcher were teammates in high school and have similar skillsets. Despite being undersized — 5-foot-10, 170 pounds — Cabico has proved he'll stick his nose in the fray and make open field tackles. That will be key to watch against bigger receivers like UNI's Daurice Fountain.'

PREDICTION

UNI head coach Mark Farley is mum both about who his starter will be at quarterback, and how much either or both will play on Saturday night. But the way their offsetting dynamic has worked, it would not be a surprise to see both play. If Cal Poly can both be prepared for two quarterbacks and quickly shift mind-set in how to defend such different styles, UNI could be in trouble. Ultimately, though, it's about UNI stopping the run, which it has shown an ability to do so. Discipline has long been the trait of a Panther defense, and even with young players, it appears to be here again. Northern Iowa 27, Cal Poly 21

From Allen:

'Cal Poly's offense has met preseason expectations given the nine returning starters and standout quarterback Chris Brown. That group is capable of sustaining long scoring drives and I would expect more of the same Saturday night at Alex G. Spanos Stadium. I think head coach Tim Walsh would agree the Mustang defense has played better than anyone expected. Holding Montana to 19 points and Arizona State to 21 for more than 52 minutes is no easy task. That said, Walsh has a ton of respect for Northern Iowa and believes this game could have playoff implications for both conferences. Cal Poly 24, Northern Iowa 21'

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