Cal Poly’s Upset Bid of No. 4 Montana Comes Up Short in Second Half

Saturday, October 11

Missoula, Mont.

1 P.M.

3-4 , 1-2

Montana

6-0 , 3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Cal Poly

Montana

Cal Poly’s Upset Bid of No. 4 Montana Comes Up Short in Second Half

10/11/2025 4:22:00 PM | Football

Box Score

MISSOULA – The Cal Poly football team gave No. 4 Montana all it could handle on the road in Missoula, leading 9-0 at halftime, but the Mustangs fell short of upsetting the undefeated Grizzlies Saturday, 28-9.

Cal Poly's (3-4, 1-2 Big Sky) defense was stellar on the day, producing two takeaways and forcing six punts as well as a turnover on downs. Four Mustangs, Mikey D'Amato, Kenny Olson, Jeremiah Bernard, and Mason Rivera each had double-digit tackles on the day. D'Amato once again led the way with 14.

The Mustang defense came up with a big fourth down stop on Montana's first drive of the game, stopping the Grizzlies on 4th and 1 from the Cal Poly 21 yard line. However, Montana's defense held the Mustangs off the board on the ensuing drive after an interception at the Grizzlies' 16 yard line.

Cal Poly's defense continued to hold the Grizzlies' offense at bay, resulting in a scoreless tie after the first quarter, the first time Montana has been held scoreless in the first quarter this season. Less than four minutes into the second quarter, the Mustangs changed that with a 79-yard touchdown drive. A 33-yard pass from Ty Dieffenbach to Michael Briscoe setup Cal Poly at the Montana 40. Two plays later, Dieffenbach connected with Brooks Wheatley for a 26-yard touchdown pass, the first of Wheatley's career.

The Mustangs defense continued to play at a high level in the second quarter as safety Mason Rivera intercepted the Grizzlies' pass attempt in the end zone with just under six minutes left in the half. For the entire first half, the Mustangs held Montana to less than 150 total yards, and forced them to punt four times, turned them over on downs once, and had an interception to hold the Grizzlies scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2019.

Cal Poly's offense closed the first half strong as in under a minute, they went 70 yards down the field and were able to close the first half with a 27-yard field goal from Noah Serna to put the Mustangs up 9-0 at halftime.

Montana's first score of the game came on Cal Poly's first offensive possession of the second half. Dieffenbach's pass was picked off by Grizzly cornerback Kenzel Lawler and returned 21 yards for a touchdown.

Just over a minute into the fourth quarter, Montana finished off a 14-play, 96-yard drive that lasted over six minutes with a 24-yard touchdown pass to take its first lead of the game, 14-9. Five minutes later, Montana's offense scored again, this time a 17-yard rushing touchdown by running back Eli Gillman, to finish a three-play, 50-yard drive and make it 21-9. The Grizzlies scored one more touchdown, another Gillman run, with less than two minutes left to make it 28-9.

The Mustangs will enjoy their lone bye week of the season next week before hosting No. 5 Montana State Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. at Mustang Memorial Field.