Cal Poly Stuns No. 16 Idaho State With Late Touchdown

A final-minute touchdown lifted Cal Poly to a 25-24 road victory over No. 16 Idaho State on Saturday in Pocatello, Idaho. Anthony Grigsby Jr. delivered the decisive five-yard pass to Misa Paiau with 40 seconds remaining, completing a comeback that improved the Mustangs to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in Big Sky Conference play, according to the Associated Press.

Cal Poly overcame a six-point deficit with a seven-play, 66-yard drive that took 1:01. The result handed Idaho State its second loss of the season, dropping the Bengals to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in conference competition, according to the Associated Press.

Grigsby accounted for three touchdowns, throwing for 198 yards and one score while rushing for 55 yards and two touchdowns. His performance included an 18-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter and a four-yard scoring run in the third quarter, followed by a successful two-point conversion that tied the game at 18.

Idaho State had taken an 18-10 lead in the third quarter after recording a safety and getting a career-long 50-yard field goal from Mason Lindberg. The safety was the program's first since a game against Oregon State in 2024, according to the Associated Press.

Lindberg continued to produce points in the fourth quarter, connecting on field goals of 43 and 30 yards to put the Bengals ahead 24-18. He finished the game with five successful field goals on five attempts, but Cal Poly's final possession prevented Idaho State from protecting its lead.

Idaho State quarterback Jordan Cooke threw for 238 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice. Despite Lindberg's perfect performance on field-goal attempts, the Bengals could not stop the Mustangs' decisive late drive, according to the Associated Press.

The victory also marked a significant change from the teams' positions entering the matchup. Before Saturday's game, Cal Poly was coming off a 42-34 double-overtime loss to Weber State, while Idaho State had fallen 38-31 at home to Northern Arizona. Those defeats had given both programs their first conference losses of the season, according to the previously published report from Suara Garut.

Cal Poly entered the matchup facing a demanding closing stretch, with four of its final six regular-season games scheduled against ranked opponents. The Mustangs' win in Pocatello strengthened their conference record as they continued that stretch, according to the team's season preview published by Suara Garut.

The teams also brought a long history into the contest. Cal Poly held a 13-11 advantage in the all-time series dating to Nov. 25, 1937, according to Suara Garut. The Mustangs had been seeking their first road victory against Idaho State since Oct. 27, 2007.

Cal Poly is scheduled to visit Northern Colorado next Saturday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time, with the game set to air on ESPN+, according to the team's schedule cited by Suara Garut. Idaho State is scheduled to travel to Weber State next Saturday, according to the Associated Press.