Mustangs Fall to FBS Opponent Stanford

Saturday, September 7

Stanford, CA

4 P.M.

0-2 , 0-0

Stanford

1-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Cal Poly

Stanford

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Mustangs Fall to FBS Opponent Stanford

9/7/2024 7:12:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

STANFORD, Calif. – Playing against an ACC opponent in Stanford for the first time in program history, Cal Poly hung tough in the first half to be within a score at halftime but fell to the Cardinal Saturday on the road 41-7.

The Mustangs (0-2) finished with 229 yards for the game, 204 in the air. Quarterback Bo Kelly was 17-25 for 149 yards. Receivers Michael Briscoe and Giancarlo Woods each had over 40 yards receiving. Running back Aiden Ramos had four catches for 30 yards.

Defensively, safety Jake East led in tackles with eight while fellow safety Brian Dukes Jr. had seven. Defensive end Elijah Ponder got in the Stanford backfield for 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack to go along with four total tackles.

Stanford (1-1) was led by quarterback Ashton Daniels who was 19-23 for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

On Stanford's first drive, Mustang defensive lineman Ethan Rodriguez got in the Cardinal backfield and forced Stanford running back Micah Ford into a fumble that was recovered by the Mustangs' Ethan Calvert on the Stanford 38.

The Mustangs drove down to the Stanford 24-yard line and went for a 41-yard field goal that was blocked by the Cardinal.

Stanford got on the board first at the tail end of the first quarter. Cardinal quarterback Ashton Daniels connected with receiver Sedrick Irvin for 41 yards down to the Mustang 13. A few plays later, they threw it to the end zone from five yards out to go ahead 7-0 as time expired.

The Mustangs responded strongly to tie it up, going 75 yards in six plays. A flea flicker called by the Cal Poly coaching staff capped the drive as wide receiver Michael Briscoe connected with tight end Jake Woods in the end zone on a 22-yard pass to tie the game 7-7.

Cal Poly's defense came up big late in the second quarter. After allowing Stanford to drive it all the way down to the Mustang three-yard line, the Cardinal went for it on fourth and goal. The Mustang defense held strong as they deflected the Stanford pass to force a turnover on downs and keep the game tied.

Stanford scored a touchdown to finish the half after going 73 yards in a little over a minute to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.

On the opening drive of the second half, Cal Poly's punt was returned 90 yards by the Cardinal for a touchdown to put them up 21-7 three minutes into the third quarter. Stanford then proceeded to get a field goal and a touchdown late in the third quarter to extend their lead to 31-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

After playing its first two games of the season on the road, the Mustangs will now get to play at home for the first time this season when hosting Division II Western Oregon Saturday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.