Protheroe runs for 260 yards, Cal Poly upsets Idaho St.

Nov 11, 2018, 05:09 am

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Joe Protheroe had 41 carries for a career-best 260 yards and a score and the Cal Poly defense forced four turnovers to help the Mustangs beat Idaho State 37-14 on Saturday night.

Protheroe has a single-season school record 1,627 yards rushing this season, breaking James Noble's mark of 1,578, and moved into second on program's career list with 4,088 yards, 117 shy of Craig Young's record. Protheroe's eight consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing is also a school record.

Protheroe capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run that gave Cal Poly (4-6, 3-4 Big Sky Conference) the lead for good just before halftime. Then, on the opening possession of the second half, he had run of 3, 5 and 4 that all converted third downs before Khaleel Jenkins hit J.J. Koski for a 36-yard touchdown that made it 20-7.

Idaho State (6-4, 5-2), which came in ranked 25th in the FCS coaches poll, answered quickly as Ty Flanagan's 28-yard scoring run came less than two minutes later but Cal Poly outscored the Bengals 17-0 in the fourth quarter.

Anders Turner returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown, Koski added a 28-yard TD run and Alex Vega, who made field goals of 31 and 23 yards in the first quarter, made a 29-yarder with 1:27 to play.