Cal Poly vs Idaho

Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood engineered two lightning-quick touchdown drives. First he found Tony Harste for a 5-yard score, then the duo connected again on a 75-yard bomb on the next drive — both inside a 2:38 span — flipping a 24-16 deficit into a 31-24 Vandals lead with 3:38 to play.

But Grigsby answered in 3:54, capping a 65-yard drive with a 15-yard scramble for the tying touchdown. Forsman's third field goal of the night, a 40-yarder with 63 seconds left, appeared to have given Idaho the win.

Cal Poly started at its own 23. Grigsby hit McCoy for 41 yards, then again to reach the Idaho 36. On fourth-and-eight, with the game on the line, Grigsby found McCoy on a 34-yard touchdown pass over the middle. McCoy fought through a tackle attempt and stretched the ball across the goal line.

Anthony Grigsby Jr., Cal Poly — 26-of-35, 319 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT; also rushed for a 15-yard TD. The senior quarterback accounted for five touchdowns in Skipper's debut.

Tayvion McCoy, Cal Poly — 10 catches, 170 yards, two touchdowns including the game-winner. The transfer made an immediate impact in his first game with the Mustangs.

Joshua Wood, Idaho — Passed for 363 yards and two touchdowns. His 75-yard connection with Harste was the longest play of the game.

Tony Harste, Idaho — Two touchdown catches (5 yards, 75 yards) as Wood's primary target in the fourth-quarter rally.

Owen Forsman, Idaho — Three field goals (23, 40, 44 yards), giving the Vandals a late lead with 63 seconds left.

Cal Poly outgained Idaho 516-482 in total yards, led by a 197-119 advantage on the ground. The Mustangs dominated time of possession (32:26 to 27:34) and converted 29 first downs to Idaho's 18. Despite throwing for 44 more yards, Idaho couldn't stop Grigsby on third down — Cal Poly converted 4 of 5 third-down attempts.

Cal Poly (1-0, 1-0 Big Sky) won its first game against Idaho since transitioning to FCS before the 1994 season, snapping a five-game losing streak in the series. Skipper earned the victory in his head-coaching debut. The game set a program attendance record of 11,186 at Mustang Memorial Field, where John Madden's No. 74 was retired at halftime — only the second retired jersey in Cal Poly football history.

Idaho (0-1, 0-1) fell despite outscoring Cal Poly 18-17 in the fourth quarter. The Vandals next face (opponent TBD).

Up next: Cal Poly hosts Division II Central Washington on Saturday, Sept. 5 (5 p.m. PT).

A season opener that delivered Big Sky theatre: 24 combined points in the final 6:31, four lead changes in the fourth quarter, and a walk-off touchdown on fourth down. Grigsby's poise — 319 yards, zero turnovers, and a game-winning dart on fourth-and-eight — announced Cal Poly as a conference factor under Skipper. Idaho's rally, undone by a defence that couldn't get off the field on the final drive, leaves questions about closing out games.