BROOKINGS, S.D. - Senior quarterback Anthony Garnett scored three touchdowns and passed for 182 yards to lead No. 12 Cal Poly to a 24-16 victory over South Dakota State in the Great West Football Conference opener for both schools Saturday night at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
Garnett scored on a pair of one-yard sneaks to give Cal Poly (3-1) a 14-0 lead in the first seven minutes of the game. He added a three-yard scoring run with 12:36 to go in the third quarter to give the Mustangs a 24-13 cushion.
South Dakota State could only manage a 32-yard field goal by Parker Douglass the rest of the way, falling to 2-2 on the season.
After surrendering the first 14 points and netting minus-13 yards in offense in the first seven minutes of the game, South Dakota State dominated the offensive statistics the rest of the way.
The host Jackrabbits had more first downs (22-11), more total offensive yards (344-322) and producd a huge advantage in time of possession (38:37 to 21:23) than the Mustangs.
But in the end, the quick 14-0 Mustang lead held up.
Nick Coromelas kicked a 37-yard field goal for Cal Poly early in the second quarter for a 17-7 lead.
In addition to three field goals by Douglass spanning 21, 52 and 32 yards, South Dakota State's only other score was a 33-yard touchdown run by Cory Koenig in the first quarter.
Garnett finished with 63 rushing yards on 17 carries while freshman running back James Noble added 53 yards on eight trips. Garnett completed his first six passes and finished nine of 15 for 182 yards. Jason Holmes and Jonah Russell each caught three passes for the Mustangs.
Koenig became only the fourth running back in the last three seasons to rush for over 100 yards against Cal Poly's defense, netting 126 yards on 24 carries.
Jackrabbit quarterback Andy Kardoes completed 14 of 32 passes for 174 yards and was sacked three times by Chris White, Chris Gocong and Matt Chachere. Josh Davis caught eight passes for 115 yards for South Dakota State while Chris Molitor caught four balls.
Cal Poly's defgensive leaders were linebacker Kyle Shotwell with 10 tackles (three solo), strong safety Aaron Williams with nine (three solo) and linebacker Jason Relyea, also with nine (three solo). Chachere was credited with two quarterback hurries while Ramses Barden blocked a South Dakota State field goal attempt.
