Mustangs Outdistanced in Fourth Quarter at San Jose State, 30-20
9/12/2026 10:42:00 PM | Football
SAN JOSE – Misa Paiau and Jaden Green scored their first touchdowns of 2026 and quarterback Anthony Grigsby, Jr., completed 24 passes for 249 yards but the Cal Poly football program – after tying Saturday’s matchup with San Jose State early in the fourth quarter – sustained its first setback of the season, 30-20.
Playing its first road game of the year against its lone FBS opponent and facing a 20-13 deficit to open the fourth quarter, Cal Poly saw Paiau (below) – from one yard out – plunge over the pile of players at the goal line and kicker Josue Lopez squared the scoreline with the extra point.
San Jose State kicker Trajan Sinatra pushed the Spartans back in front on the next drive with his third field goal of the night – a 40-yard attempt with 10 minutes remaining.
On Cal Poly’s ensuing drive, however, Grigsby – looking for receiver Tayvion McCoy in the end zone – was intercepted. Regaining possession, San Jose State went 80 yards in three minutes as quarterback Luke Weaver found receiver Carson Clark from 41 yards as the Spartans finalized the scoring with seven-and-a-half minutes to play.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Cal Poly took Saturday’s initial lead a minute into the second as receiver Fidel Pitts – on his first rush of the season – scored from two yards. Pitts also led all receivers with 103 yards Saturday.
The Mustangs, however, missed the extra point attempt and San Jose State scored on its next two drives as Weaver delivered a five-yard touchdown completion to Clark before Sinatra kicked a 44-yard field goal. Sinatra added another from 32 yards two seconds before the break as Cal Poly faced a 13-6 deficit heading into halftime.
With Cal Poly receiving to open the second half, Grigsby and Green directed the Mustangs on a two-minute, 65-yard scoring drive with the former finding the latter from six yards to tie the matchup at 13-13.
Cal Poly Noteworthy (at San Jose State)
- Up Next: Cal Poly completes preparations for Big Sky play when hosting San Diego on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. Cal Poly has won of its last six matchups with San Diego dating to 2019.
- Following season-opening wins against Idaho (Aug. 28) and Central Washington (Sept. 5), Cal Poly was seeking its first 3-0 start to a season since 2012.
- Senior defensive back RL Miller enjoyed a career high 12 tackles.
- Cal Poly limited San Jose State to just three third-down conversions in 12 attempts.
- Grigsby’s 40 passing attempts marked a career high.
- The Mustangs committed just one penalty Saturday and for only 10 yards. San Jose State committed five for 55 – two of which handed Cal Poly first downs.
