Saturday, September 20
Nacogdoches, TX
5 P.M.
2-2 , 0-0
17
at
35
Stephen F. Austin
2-2 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Cal Poly
3
7
0
7
17
Stephen F. Austin
0
14
21
0
35
Mustangs Fall to Stephen F. Austin in Non-Conference Finale
9/20/2025 8:34:00 PM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Cal Poly senior wide receiver Michael Briscoe had over 100 yards receiving for the second consecutive game, but the Mustang football team fell on the road to Stephen F. Austin Saturday evening, 35-17.
Briscoe highlighted the Cal Poly offense with four catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, his third game already this season with over 100 yards receiving. The offense produced 357 total yards, 288 passing. The Mustang defense forced the Lumberjacks (2-2) to punt six times and held them scoreless in the first quarter while also forcing a turnover. However, a punt return for a touchdown and a pick-six hurt the Mustangs (2-2) on the scoreboard.
The Mustangs had to use three quarterbacks in the game after starter Ty Dieffenbach suffered an injury midway through the first quarter and did not return to the game. Quarterbacks Jackson Akins and Bo Kelly both came in after that.
On the opening drive of the game, Cal Poly's defense came up with a big turnover as safety Mason Rivera forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Troy Bean at midfield. Midway through the first quarter, Dieffenbach suffered that injury that forced him out of the game. Jackson Akins then came in at quarterback to finish the Mustangs' second drive which resulted in a 44-yard field goal by kicker Noah Serna to put Cal Poly ahead 3-0 late in the opening quarter.
Right before the end of the first quarter with the Mustangs starting at their own one yard line, Akins' pass was intercepted to set the Lumberjack offense up at the Cal Poly 25 yard line. On the first play of the second quarter, SFA connected on a 13-yard passing touchdown to go up 7-3.
Cal Poly responded with a six play, 75-yard drive. On a 3rd and 9 from their own 36, Akins hit Briscoe on a screen pass at the line of scrimmage. Briscoe did all the work from there, going 64 yards to the house for the touchdown, his seventh of the season, which put the Mustangs back in front, 10-7.
The Lumberjacks took the lead midway through the second quarter following a 65-yard punt return touchdown by SFA's Kylon Harris to go up 14-10, a score they held at halftime.
On the third play of the second half, Akins' pass was intercepted and returned by Stephen F. Austin's Malachi Williams 36 yards for a touchdown to quickly make it 21-10 one minute into the third quarter. Later midway through the third, a 44-yard completion by the Lumberjacks set them up with first and goal at the one. They then ran it in for a touchdown a play later to extend their lead to 28-10.
Late in the third, Cal Poly drove down into the red zone but the push for points ended following an interception inside the five. Stephen F. Austin then went 82 yards in four plays for a touchdown to push their lead to 35-10.
With three minutes left in the game, Kelly found wide receiver Kian Salehi for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 35-17.
Cal Poly will now get ready to start Big Sky play next Saturday, September 27 on the road at Sacramento State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Briscoe highlighted the Cal Poly offense with four catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, his third game already this season with over 100 yards receiving. The offense produced 357 total yards, 288 passing. The Mustang defense forced the Lumberjacks (2-2) to punt six times and held them scoreless in the first quarter while also forcing a turnover. However, a punt return for a touchdown and a pick-six hurt the Mustangs (2-2) on the scoreboard.
The Mustangs had to use three quarterbacks in the game after starter Ty Dieffenbach suffered an injury midway through the first quarter and did not return to the game. Quarterbacks Jackson Akins and Bo Kelly both came in after that.
On the opening drive of the game, Cal Poly's defense came up with a big turnover as safety Mason Rivera forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Troy Bean at midfield. Midway through the first quarter, Dieffenbach suffered that injury that forced him out of the game. Jackson Akins then came in at quarterback to finish the Mustangs' second drive which resulted in a 44-yard field goal by kicker Noah Serna to put Cal Poly ahead 3-0 late in the opening quarter.
Right before the end of the first quarter with the Mustangs starting at their own one yard line, Akins' pass was intercepted to set the Lumberjack offense up at the Cal Poly 25 yard line. On the first play of the second quarter, SFA connected on a 13-yard passing touchdown to go up 7-3.
Cal Poly responded with a six play, 75-yard drive. On a 3rd and 9 from their own 36, Akins hit Briscoe on a screen pass at the line of scrimmage. Briscoe did all the work from there, going 64 yards to the house for the touchdown, his seventh of the season, which put the Mustangs back in front, 10-7.
The Lumberjacks took the lead midway through the second quarter following a 65-yard punt return touchdown by SFA's Kylon Harris to go up 14-10, a score they held at halftime.
On the third play of the second half, Akins' pass was intercepted and returned by Stephen F. Austin's Malachi Williams 36 yards for a touchdown to quickly make it 21-10 one minute into the third quarter. Later midway through the third, a 44-yard completion by the Lumberjacks set them up with first and goal at the one. They then ran it in for a touchdown a play later to extend their lead to 28-10.
Late in the third, Cal Poly drove down into the red zone but the push for points ended following an interception inside the five. Stephen F. Austin then went 82 yards in four plays for a touchdown to push their lead to 35-10.
With three minutes left in the game, Kelly found wide receiver Kian Salehi for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 35-17.
Cal Poly will now get ready to start Big Sky play next Saturday, September 27 on the road at Sacramento State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
CPS
SFA
Total Yards
357
354
Pass Yards
288
190
Rushing Yards
69
164
Penalty Yards
75
80
1st Downs
19
18
3rd Downs
4
4
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
31:51
28:09
1st Quarter
CPS 3, SFA 0
CPS - Serna,Noah 44 yd field goal 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 05:22
2nd Quarter
CPS 3, SFA 7
SFA - Wayland,Clayton 13 yd pass from Vidlak,Sam (Alvarado,Carlos kick) 3 plays, 26 yards, TOP 00:26
CPS 10, SFA 7
CPS - Briscoe,Michael 64 yd pass from Akins,Jackson (Dimauro,Gianluca kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:53
CPS 10, SFA 14
SFA - Harris,Kylon 65 yd punt return (Alvarado,Carlos kick)
3rd Quarter
CPS 10, SFA 21
SFA - Williams,Malachi 28 yd interception (Alvarado,Carlos kick)
CPS 10, SFA 28
SFA - Reese,Richard 1 yd run (Alvarado,Carlos kick), 5 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:34
CPS 10, SFA 35
SFA - Bohler,Derrick 28 yd pass from Vidlak,Sam (Alvarado,Carlos kick) 4 plays, 82 yards, TOP 01:31
4th Quarter
CPS 17, SFA 35
CPS - Salehi,Kian 41 yd pass from Kelly,Bo (Dimauro,Gianluca kick) 3 plays, 52 yards, TOP 01:19
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
QB
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WR
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WR
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