TDMH: 12 Years Ago, Cal Poly Upsets San Diego State, 29-27
8/30/2020 1:49:00 PM | Football
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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Twelve years ago today, Cal Poly recorded its second win in three seasons against San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium.
Andrew Gardner kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired to lift head coach Rich Ellerson's Mustangs to a 29-27 victory over the Aztecs in the 2008 season opener for both teams before 26,851 fans. The game is part of Cal Poly's This Day in Mustang History feature, presented by Pacific Premier Bank.
Two years earlier, in October 2006, Cal Poly beat San Diego State 16-14.
Andrew Gardner celebrates game-winner.
The pair of wins are among the five victories the Mustangs have recorded over an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in program history. The others are an overtime 38-35 win at New Mexico State in 1997, a 34-13 triumph at UTEP in 2003 and a 24-22 victory at Wyoming in 2012.
San Diego State grabbed a 27-26 lead with seven minutes remaining. Cal Poly turned the ball over on downs with 4:24 to play but regained possession on its own 33-yard line with 3:39 remaining. Ryan Mole stiff-arms a San Diego State defender.
Quarterback Jonathan Dally marched the Mustangs 63 yards to the Aztecs' 4-yard line. Completions to Ramses Barden spanning 13 and 10 yards plus a 29-yard run by James Noble set the stage for Gardner's game-winning kick.
Cal Poly outgained San Diego State 483-379 in total offense and produced a 16-minute advantage in time of possession.
Noble finished with 89 yards on 11 carries while Ryan Mole added 84 yards on 12 trips, scoring a touchdown on an eight-yard run in the second quarter. Dally completed 12 of 21 passes for 220 yards and one score, a 22-yarder to Barden, and also plunged one yard for another score.
Gardner opened the fourth quarter with a 23-yard field goal for a 26-21 Cal Poly lead and the Mustangs also scored a safety in the first quarter.
Cal Poly was ranked No. 14 in the preseason media and coaches polls and went on to post an 8-3 record, capturing the first of four straight Great West Football Conference titles and qualifying for the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
