Cal Poly Drops Saturday Home Decision to No. 3 Idaho

Saturday, October 7

San Luis Obispo, CA

5:02 p.m.

2-4 , 0-3

Idaho

5-1 , 3-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Idaho	7	21	7	7	42
Cal Poly	0	7	0	7	14

Photo by: Nathan Nybakke (Photography 805)

Cal Poly Drops Saturday Home Decision to No. 3 Idaho

10/7/2023 9:42:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Redshirt freshman quarterback Bo Kelly's career-high 262-yard passing performance included touchdown receptions to redshirt freshman Tyrece Fairly-Diyem (above) and sophomore Logan Booher, but the Cal Poly football program fell to No. 3 Idaho at Mustang Memorial Field Presented by Dignity Health, 42-14.

Fairly-Diyem also enjoyed a game high 93 receiving yards for Cal Poly (2-4, 0-3), which gashed Big Sky leading Idaho (5-1, 3-0) for the most passing yards the Vandals have conceded this season. However, Idaho – making its first all-time visit to San Luis Obispo in just the fourth meeting between the two sides – led from the opening drive before taking a 28-7 advantage into halftime.

Junior lineman Elijah Ponder and freshman linebacker Kenny Olson co-led Cal Poly with a game high seven tackles apiece. Ponder also produced two sacks, bringing his team leading total to five.

Playing three of its final five games away from Mustang Memorial Field, Cal Poly visits No. 2 Montana State on Saturday, Oct. 14. Kickoff from Bobcat Stadium is 5 p.m.

Idaho assumed a 7-0 lead to start Saturday's matchup, requiring just four plays to cover 67 yards following the opening kickoff with sophomore quarterback Gevani McCoy rushing for a six-yard score.

Forced to punt on its opening two possessions, Cal Poly kept the deficit at 7-0 to close the first quarter before the Vandals doubled their lead 95 seconds into the second period as McCoy found sophomore tight end Jake Cox with a six-yard touchdown pass.

The Mustangs thwarted Idaho's next drive with sophomore cornerback Donovan Saunders intercepting a McCoy pass and returning the ball to Cal Poly's 42-yard line. Cal Poly, however, was forced to punt once more and Vandals wide receiver Hayden Hatten – following a direct snap to running back Nick Romano and flip to McCoy – found wide receiver Jordan Dwyer from 32 yards to further Idaho's lead to 21-0.

Cal Poly found its way on to the scoreboard three minutes before halftime with Kelly picking out Fairly-Diyem from 62 yards and turning the program's second lengthiest pass completion of the year into a touchdown.

Idaho, however, reaffirmed its 21-point lead heading into the break with Vandals running back Anthony Woods scoring on a two-yard run up the middle.

The Vandals added solitary touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters, either side of Booher's 22-yard touchdown reception to open the final period.