The UND Figthing Sioux were down 10-0 to the visiting Cal Poly Mustangs and Cal Poly had the ball at the UND 37 with 3 minutes left in the quarter. Anyone who had watched the game up to that point in time would have thought the visiting team was going to thoroughly thrash the dome-standing Sioux. However, UND recovered a fumble at that point, and that led to a change in fortunes that continued for most of the rest of the contest. Cal Poly missed a field goal a bit later and also fumbled away the ball near the half when it appeared they were about to go up 24-7. The strong running of Soph. Mitch Sutton (29-153-2) took over the game in the second half, and the Cal Poly defense (especially Great West POTW DE Ryan Shotwell) just looked sluggish and tired throughout that second half after bussing up from Minneapolis. UND WR (from Montreal, Quebec--that hotbed of American football) also helped bring the Sioux back with some very impressive receptions. No surefire camp prospects in this one, but there are a couple of juniors who should be in camps in the summer of 2011.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Cal Poly Conference: Great West Columnist: Jake Popkin

Game Notes
Ryan Shotwell 44 6' 2.5" 250 4.75 DE 2010: Tall, rangy DE who is actually an OLB playing out of position. Plays outside shade of the OT and actually even takes a 2-point stance on occasion. Has a good motor normally and has had much better games. Got upfield a lot in this one too, but did almost nothing when he got there. Not overly explosive. Holds POA in the run game well enough at this level. Plays like a spy against the option. Quick to the ball and tackles pretty well. Looked sluggish in the second half. Can be deked. Has the best chance to be in a camp of any of the seniors in this game, but would have to be considered an OLB prospect for the next level. Definitely no second coming of Chris Gocong. GRADE: Neutral

Carlton Gillespie 56 6' 0.3" 235 4.70 LB 2010: Pretty decent football player who really looked like something in the first half, but tailed off and let down with the whole Mustangs D in the second. Shows good range. Wiry. Gets out on the edge and makes plays. Wrap tackler. Not real big or overly fast. Reads and reacts pretty well, but not outstandingly. Active penetrator, but can be cut. Relentless blitzer who gives very good effort when fresh. Has some tools...GRADE: Neutral

Jon Hall 28 6' 1.4" 242 4.80 FB 2011: Used as a H-back/move TE, more than as a true FB, because they have a good true FB in So. Jake Romanelli. Can take the wide option pitch and hit the corner. Shows very good hands for a FB. Blocks OK. Has a year to grow. You'd think he'd carry more people when he's hit, but doesn't seem to understand his own strength, or use of leverage, or something. Had a 10-yard TD catch and a 30-yard TD catch. Looks a tad like Brian Leonard out there catching passes, but nothing much like him as a runner...yet....GRADE: Slightly positive

Xavier Gardner 31 5' 11.4" 181 4.55 CB 2010: Rugged CB who does a nice job in run support. Is there such a thing as an "in the box CB?", because if there is, Xavier is that guy. Covers tight one-on-one at this level, but I don't see the hips or makeup speed of an NFL corner here. GRADE: Neutral

Dominique Johnson 9 6' 2.0" 206 4.55 WR 2011: UCLA transfer who did his best Ramses Barden impression today (6-120-0). Smooth, athletic and fairly tough. More of a spot/ wall-off type than a precise route runner. Has a year to improve his craft and needs it, but may have been the best PP on either roster today. Glider, with deceptive long speed. Catches with his hands. Will make the tough catch, both low and high. Impressive specimen at this level. Was a productive WR for the Bruins before coming over, but was a small fish in a big pond. Now the tables are reversed. GRADE: Positive


College: North Dakota Conference: Great West Columnist: Jake Popkin

Game Notes
Andrew Miller 34 5' 11.3" 229 4.70 LB 2010: Tough college LB who would simply be overwhelmed at the next level. Made some plays. Big hitter, but can also be hit big. Average instincts. Doesn't disengage all the well. Was the second man in too much. GRADE: Slightly negative

Kyle Bondy 66 6' 4.4" 295 5.35 OT 2010: Country strong. Will hit 2. Nice feet, and recoils well in pass pro. Not much of a run blocker at this stage, but he might grow into that. Long and wiry. Can sometimes be beaten by average speed rushers because he must firm up his footwork and overall PP tech. Jumped once. Has some skills. Diamond in the rough type, who may take too long to clean up and polish. GRADE: Neutral

David Koelln 74 6' 5.0" 286 5.15 OT 2010: DNP


OTHER NOTES:

UND: WR Ishmail Bomba, #18, catches your eye and is a speed merchant who flashes hands. Was becoming the primary target and really helped bring the team back in the second half. Could be a PP for sure next year. Freshman DE Ross Brenneman looks like a guy who will be a fixture in Minot for a long time to come. RB Mitch Sutton was a long shot to even play this year, but has been a revelation.

Cal Poly: They just can't win on the road or on Astroturf...weird. They are a better team than UND, but just didn't play like it all after half time. Jake Romanelli may develop into a camp body at FB one day.