Santa Barbara, Calif. – College football action on Saturday night gave local fans plenty to discuss. The Cal Poly Mustangs traveled to Greeley, Colo., for a Big Sky showdown with the Northern Colorado Bears and came up short, 28-18. Meanwhile, the Hancock Bulldogs posted a convincing 34-16 win over the Moorpark Bulldogs in the National Northern League.
Cal Poly vs. Northern Colorado
Quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. threw for 300 yards for the Mustangs, but three costly turnovers proved decisive. The Bears capitalized on each mistake, scoring 21 points off the turnovers. “We had too many penalties and too many turnovers,” Cal Poly head coach Tim Skipper said after the game. “It’s going to make it very hard to beat teams when that happens. We learned a valuable lesson here.”
Wide receiver Tayvion McCoy was a bright spot, hauling in nine catches for 128 yards and catching a 10‑yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter that briefly put Cal Poly within three points. The Mustangs also converted a two‑point conversion on a pass from Grigsby to tight end Alek Marshall, tying the game at 21‑18.
However, Northern Colorado responded quickly. Linebacker Chase Martin intercepted a Grigsby pass at the 1‑yard line, giving the Bears excellent field position. A subsequent fumble by Cal Poly near midfield ended a promising drive, and the Bears turned the turnover into a touchdown nine plays later, extending the lead to 28‑18. The Mustangs were unable to close the gap, finishing the night at 4‑4 overall and 3‑2 in the Big Sky conference.
Cal Poly will return home next Saturday, Oct. 24, to host Utah Tech at Spanos Stadium, looking to rebound from the loss.
Junior College Highlights: Hancock vs. Moorpark
In the National Northern League, the Hancock Bulldogs displayed a balanced attack, defeating the Moorpark Bulldogs 34‑16. Quarterback Max Perrett rushed for two touchdowns and connected on a 65‑yard touchdown pass to Aidan Good, showcasing both his running and passing abilities.
Hancock improved to 4‑3 on the season and 3‑1 in league play, while Moorpark fell to 2‑5 overall and 2‑2 in the conference.
Other Local Scores
Former Bishop Diego High School quarterback Tua Rojas led Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) to a lone 7‑point score in a 63‑7 loss to Mt. San Antonio. Rojas threw a 12‑yard touchdown pass to Ayden Staricco. The Vaqueros dropped to 0‑7 for the season, extending a streak of 18 consecutive losses dating back to 2024.
In another high‑scoring affair, the Ventura Pirates overwhelmed Citrus 65‑28, racking up 490 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. LaRevious Woods led the ground game with 166 yards and four scores, while Amir McDowell added 158 yards and two touchdowns. The Pirates moved to 5‑2 overall and 3‑1 in league play.
These results highlight the competitive spirit of college football across the region, from Division I programs to junior college teams. Fans can look forward to more weekend action as the season progresses.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
