3-2 , 2-0
Eastern Washington
1-4 , 0-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| Eastern Wash. | 6 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
Cal Poly Completes 4th Quarter Comeback to Improve to 2-0 in Big Sky Play
9/26/2026 11:53:00 PM | Football
CHENEY, Wash. — Wide receiver Tayvion McCoy caught a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone with just over a minute remaining and the Mustang defense secured an interception as time expired to seal a thrilling 31-27 victory for the Cal Poly football team at Eastern Washington on Saturday night.
Running back Jaden Green racked up 269 yards on the ground — the second most rushing yards in a game in program history — as Cal Poly improved to 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play for the first time since 2013.
The Mustangs accumulated 428 total yards of offense on Roos Field and in the process captured their first victory in program history at Eastern Washington, going winless in their previous seven attempts.
All three phases stepped up to help the Mustangs walk away from Cheney with a win in a back-and-forth battle that featured six lead changes.
“It was just a gutty effort,” Cal Poly football head coach Tim Skipper said after the game, “… there was just a lot of plays being made, so many I can’t even remember them all, but I know it was a group effort and that’s all we cared about today, play as one heartbeat, play in one direction and that’s what we did in all three phases. I just like the resolve of our guys, the no quit mentality and just getting it done and finding a way.”
Trailing 27-24 over midway through the fourth quarter, the Cal Poly defense rose to the occasion and gave the offense a chance to win it. After barely failing to stop the Eagles on a fourth-and-one from the Cal Poly 27-yard-line, the Mustangs forced a turnover two plays later when cornerback Jadyn Marshall broke up a pass and linebacker Troy Bean caught the tipped ball for his second interception of the season. The turnover halted a 13-play, 56-yard drive by EWU that lasted over six minutes.
“It was a huge play,” Skipper said about Bean’s interception, “… and it turned the tide, our whole energy and momentum on the sidelines completely changed and we found a way to get it done.”
On the ensuing possession, Cal Poly was forced to punt with 4:59 remaining in the game, but the defense forced a three-and-out on the Eagles’ next drive to give the Mustangs’ offense the ball back with 2:44 left. Needing just a field goal to tie it, Cal Poly took the field looking for more and a 31-yard rush from Green on the second play of the drive set them up perfectly to do just that.
In just six plays, the Mustangs drove 70 yards in 1:41 for the go-ahead touchdown as quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. connected with McCoy from 23 yards out with 1:03 remaining to put Cal Poly ahead 31-27.
The Eagles (1-4, 0-2 Big Sky) were able to drive down to the Cal Poly 29-yard-line on the next possession, but safety RL Miller stepped in front of a pass into the end zone as time ran out on the clock to secure the game-sealing interception.
Cal Poly got off to a blistering start to the game, receiving the opening kickoff and getting on the scoreboard just 2:41 into the Big Sky matchup when wide receiver Ray Hall made a highlight reel 31-yard touchdown catch over an Eastern Washington defender.
Green broke free for his first of two 50+ yard touchdown runs with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter to help Cal Poly carry a 14-13 lead into halftime.
After EWU scored a touchdown to open the second half to take a 20-14 lead, Cal Poly responded a couple drives later when Green used some great blocking from the Mustang offensive line to sprint through the Eagles’ defense for a 53-yard touchdown run and make it 21-20 in favor of the Mustangs.
Eastern Washington regained the lead though on the ensuing possession, taking a 27-21 advantage on a 4-yard touchdown run.
Kicker Josue Lopez converted a 43-yard field goal with three minutes in the third quarter to make it 27-24 and the two teams held each other at bay until Cal Poly’s game-winning touchdown drive with 1:03 left.
Cal Poly Noteworthy Vs. Eastern Washington
- Up Next: Cal Poly (3-2, 2-0 Big Sky) returns home to Mustang Memorial Field to host Weber State (2-3, 1-1 Big Sky) at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, as part of Mustang Family Weekend. The game will be televised live on ESPN+ and you can secure tickets HERE.
- Green carried the ball 28 times in Saturday’s game, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. His 269 rushing yards were second only to Craig Young in program history, who rushed for 283 in a game against St. Mary’s in 1996. The junior now ranks third in the Big Sky this season in rushing.
- Cal Poly’s special teams blocked two kicks on Saturday. In the first quarter, freshman Julian Njelita blocked a PAT following Eastern Washington’s first touchdown. Then early in the second quarter, defensive end Jalonn Booth broke the line on a 46-yard field goal attempt and blocked it.
- Linebacker Kenny Olson recorded a career-high and game-high 16 tackles on Saturday. He currently ranks second in the Big Sky in tackles with 52.
- Entering the day as the nation’s leading tackler, linebacker Mikey D’Amato secured 12 against EWU and now has 60 on the season, which leads the Big Sky.
- Cal Poly had five sacks on Saturday, led by a pair from defensive end Kaleb Pleis.
Team Stats
CSP 7, EWU 0
CSP - Hall,Ray 31 yd pass from Grigsby Jr.,Anthony (Lopez,Josue kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 02:41
CSP 7, EWU 6
EWU - Cabrera,David 35 yd pass from Bell,Nate () 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:15
CSP 7, EWU 13
EWU - East,Jamai 6 yd pass from Bell,Nate (McKee,Soren kick) 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:56
CSP 14, EWU 13
CSP - Green,Jaden 55 yd run (Lopez,Josue kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:34
CSP 14, EWU 20
EWU - Bell,Nate 13 yd run (McKee,Soren kick), 8 plays, 81 yards, TOP 03:11
CSP 21, EWU 20
CSP - Green,Jaden 53 yd run (Lopez,Josue kick), 2 plays, 58 yards, TOP 00:37
CSP 21, EWU 27
EWU - Allen III,Kevin 4 yd run (McKee,Soren kick), 4 plays, 15 yards, TOP 01:44
CSP 24, EWU 27
CSP - Lopez,Josue 43 yd field goal 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 03:51
CSP 31, EWU 27
CSP - McCoy,Tayvion 23 yd pass from Grigsby Jr.,Anthony (Lopez,Josue kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:41
