2-2 , 1-0
San Diego
1-2 , 0-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
| Cal Poly | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
Mustangs Fall to San Diego on Last-Second Field Goal
9/19/2026 10:09:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Touchdown receptions from wide receivers Tayvion McCoy in the third quarter and Fidel Pitts in the fourth helped the Cal Poly football program close a 14-point, second-half deficit Saturday evening, but San Diego kicker Emiliano Salazar’s 38-yard field goal with two seconds remaining handed the Toreros a 38-35 victory at Mustang Memorial Field.
With San Diego (1-2) leading 35-21 midway through the third quarter, Cal Poly quarterback Anthony Grigsby, Jr. – for the second time Saturday – found McCoy in the end zone from 28 yards. The Mustangs then tied the matchup at 35-35 with eight minutes remaining after Grigsby picked out Pitts from 10 yards.
Cal Poly (2-2) next stopped the Toreros on fourth-and-inches at their own 47-yard line as defensive back RL Miller’s tackle of running back Omar Mbakwe handed the Mustangs possession with three minutes to play.
The Mustangs, however, were forced to punt on the following drive and San Diego, taking over on its own 24, drove to Cal Poly’s 21before Salazar’s game-winning field goal.
During a matchup that featured 883 total yards of offense, Cal Poly matched San Diego touchdown-for-touchdown during the first half as an eight-yard scoring rush from running back Jaden Green, 26-yard effort by running back Misa Paiau and 12-yard reception by McCoy leveled the scoreline at 21-21 late in the second quarter.
San Diego then scored with six seconds remaining in the opening half before punching in another touchdown five minutes into the second to go up, 35-21.
Cal Poly Noteworthy (versus San Diego)
- Up Next: Cal Poly returns to Big Sky action when visiting Eastern Washington on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff on ESPN+ from Roos Field is 4 p.m. for Cal Poly (2-2, 1-0), which defeated Idaho in its Aug. 28 Big Sky opener, 38-34.
- The Big Sky’s leading tackler, Cal Poly linebacker Mikey D’Amato made a game-high 12 Saturday. He entered the weekend ranked No. 2 among FCS players.
- Jaden Green finished with a Cal Poly-best 126 rushing yards on 17 carries.
- Saturday’s win was just San Diego third in 12 all-time matchups with Cal Poly.
Team Stats
USD 7, CPM 0
USD - Monach,Cole 7 yd pass from Nankil,Dom (Salazar,Emiliano kick) 16 plays, 88 yards, TOP 08:07
USD 7, CPM 7
CPM - Green,Jaden 8 yd run (Lopez,Josue kick), 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 01:34
USD 14, CPM 7
USD - Criter,Adam 55 yd run (Salazar,Emiliano kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:56
USD 14, CPM 14
CPM - Paiau,Misa 26 yd run (Lopez,Josue kick), 6 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:07
USD 21, CPM 14
USD - Monach,Cole 22 yd pass from Nankil,Dom (Salazar,Emiliano kick) 6 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:22
USD 21, CPM 21
CPM - McCoy,Tayvion 12 yd pass from Grigsby Jr.,Anthony (Lopez,Josue kick) 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 02:53
USD 28, CPM 21
USD - Nankil,Dom 1 yd run (Salazar,Emiliano kick), 10 plays, 79 yards, TOP 03:02
USD 35, CPM 21
USD - Mbakwe,Omar 1 yd run (Salazar,Emiliano kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:51
USD 35, CPM 28
CPM - McCoy,Tayvion 28 yd pass from Grigsby Jr.,Anthony (Lopez,Josue kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:37
USD 35, CPM 35
CPM - Pitts,Fidel 10 yd pass from Grigsby Jr.,Anthony (Lopez,Josue kick) 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 01:57
USD 38, CPM 35
USD - Salazar,Emiliano 38 yd field goal 8 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:04
