Cal Poly shocks Idaho with late touchdown in season opener

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) - Quarterback Anthony Grigby, Jr. threw for 319 yards, finishing 26-for-35 and finding wide receiver Tayvion McCoy for his fourth and final touchdown pass with nine seconds remaining Friday evening as the Cal Poly football program opened the 2026 season and Big Sky Conference action with a 38-34 victory against Idaho at Mustang Memorial Field.

During an evening when Cal Poly retired the No. 74 of Pro Football Hall of Fame legend and Mustang alum John Madden at halftime and set a new program attendance record with 11,186 fans, Cal Poly fell behind, 34-31, with 63 seconds remaining after Vandals kicker Owen Forsman converted a 40-yard field goal attempt.

With Cal Poly starting its final drive on its own 23-yard line, Grigsby completed a 41-yard pass to McCoy before another completion brought the Mustangs to the Idaho 36. On fourth-and-eight, Grigsby found McCoy from 34 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

McCoy finished with 10 catches for 170 yards in his Cal Poly debut.

Behind three first-half Grigsby touchdown passes to tight end Alek Marshall (17 yards), running back Misa Paiau (one) and wide receiver Fidel Pitts (16), Cal Poly led at halftime, 21-10.

The Mustangs still led 24-16 with 11-and-a-half minutes to play before a pair of touchdown passes from Vandals quarterback Joshua Woods inside three-and-a-half minutes provided Idaho a 31-24 edge.

Grigsby helped Cal Poly tie the matchup with a 15-yard rushing touchdown with two minutes to go before Forsman’s field goal provided the visitors with their brief late lead.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly)