Cal Poly Sustains Setback at Home to Utah Tech

Saturday, October 24

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

2 P.M.

4-5 , 3-3

Utah Tech

1-7 , 1-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Utah Tech	14	6	7	16	43
Cal Poly	8	3	8	7	26

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

10/24/2026 8:00:00 PM | Football

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — In its second to last home game of the season, the Cal Poly football team sustained a 43-26 defeat to Utah Tech on Saturday at Spanos Stadium.

The Mustangs opened Saturday’s scoring, recovering a muffed Utah Tech punt after its opening drive on the Trailblazers’ 19-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Anthony Grigsby, Jr. found tight end Alek Marshall in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. The Mustangs then converted the 2-point attempt as holder Lucas Razore connected with tight end Luke Leighton to give Cal Poly an 8-0 lead less than five minutes in.

Utah Tech, however, scored on its next three possessions with tight end Zay Akinsanya catching a 22-yard touchdown pass and quarterback Deacon Hill rushing in from two yards before Max Shepherd kicked a 50-yard field goal to hand the Trailblazers a 17-8 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The two programs traded field goals to close the first half — with kicker Josue Lopez hitting a 31-yarder with 5:25 left in the second quarter — and Utah Tech carried a 20-11 advantage into halftime.

The Trailblazers added to their lead in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown following a Cal Poly turnover to make it 27-11. The Mustangs then answered on their next possession with a nine-play, 84-yard drive. Grigsby connected with wide receiver Ray Hall for a 37-yard gain and then rushed for 15 yards to setup a 1-yard touchdown run for Tyrei Washington. Cal Poly converted its second 2-point attempt of the game to cut the deficit to one possession, 27-19.

But the Trailblazers scored two unanswered touchdowns and added a field goal in the fourth quarter to separate themselves from the Mustangs. Quarterback Bo Kelly connected with wide receiver Hudson Giarritta for a 31-yard touchdown with 17 seconds remaining to make it 43-26.

Cal Poly (4-5, 3-3 Big Sky) finished with six turnovers in the game.

Cal Poly Noteworthy (versus Utah Tech)

Up Next: Cal Poly plays its final three regular season matchups against ranked opposition, beginning next Saturday, Oct. 31 at No. 3 Montana State. Kickoff from Bobcat Stadium is set for noon PT (1 p.m. MT).
Big Sky Update: With three games remaining, Cal Poly sits in seventh in the conference standings at 3-3 in Big Sky Play. Defending FCS national champion Montana State and No. 7 Northern Arizona are tied atop the conference at 4-1.
Tyrei Washington’s third-quarter touchdown rush was his first of the season.
Hudson Giarritta’s fourth-quarter touchdown reception marked his first career score.
Saturday’s matchup marked the first Division I meeting between Cal Poly and Utah Tech. The two programs previously met in 2009 with Cal Poly delivering a 44-14 home against then-Division II Dixie State (Utah Tech's previous name).