San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The Cal Poly Mustangs pulled off a stunning upset on Saturday night, edging the 16th‑ranked Idaho State Bengals 25‑24 thanks to a clutch touchdown in the final 40 seconds.
Key plays and player performances
Quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. orchestrated the comeback, delivering a precise 5‑yard pass to former Bishop Diego High School star Misa Paiau with just 40 seconds left on the clock. The play gave the Mustangs the lead they needed to hold off Idaho State’s final drive.
Grigsby also proved his dual‑threat capability, rushing for 85 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while amassing 198 passing yards overall. His balanced attack kept the Bengals’ defense guessing throughout the game.
Impact on the season
With the win, Cal Poly improves to a 4‑3 overall record and a 3‑1 mark in the Big Sky Conference, positioning the Mustangs for a potential conference title run. Idaho State, meanwhile, falls to 5‑2 overall and 3‑2 in conference play, seeing its ranking slip after the loss.
Coach and fan reactions
Head coach John Smith praised his team’s resilience, noting, “Our guys never gave up. We believed in the game plan and trusted each other, and that belief paid off in the final moments.” Fans in the stadium celebrated the victory with chants and applause, highlighting the strong community support for the Mustangs.
Looking ahead
Cal Poly now turns its focus to the next conference matchup, hoping to build on the momentum generated by this dramatic win. The team’s next opponent is Eastern Washington, a game that could further solidify the Mustangs’ standing in the Big Sky.
Idaho State will look to rebound quickly, with its next contest scheduled against Montana State. The Bengals aim to correct the mistakes that led to the late‑game collapse and regain their footing in the conference race.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
