Tuesday, 20 October 2026, 1:42
The San Luis Obispo community gathered for what should have been a celebratory homecoming at Spanos Stadium, but the night ended in disappointment for the Mustangs. The San Diego Toreros secured a dramatic 38-35 victory after kicker Emiliano Salazar drilled a 38-yard field goal with just two seconds left on the clock.
Despite trailing by double digits, Cal Poly mounted a fierce second-half comeback. Quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. orchestrated the rally, throwing for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Tayvion McCoy and Fide Pitts caught crucial scoring passes late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 35, sending the home crowd into a frenzy before the final drive.
Running back Jaden Green delivered a standout performance for Cal Poly, rushing for a team-best 126 yards on 17 carries. Former Bishop Diego High School standout Misa Paiau also made an early impact, tying the game at 14 in the second quarter with a 26-yard touchdown run. However, the momentum shifted when Paiau hobbled into the end zone with an injury and was unable to return for the rest of the contest.
Beyond the Division I matchup, local junior college football provided its own drama across Southern California. Long Beach dominated Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), handing the Vaqueros a 30-0 defeat while outgaining them 461 to 134 total yards. SBCC struggled offensively, managing just two rushing yards in the loss.
In a separate Citrus Cup rivalry game, Moorpark College finally broke through their long drought. The Raiders snapped a 17-game losing streak by defeating Ventura College 28-27 in overtime. Sirwan Evans connected with Anthony Garcia on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the extra period. Ventura responded with a 22-yard strike from Braden Graham to Jude Walker, but failed on the subsequent two-point conversion try.
Cal Poly now turns its attention to Big Sky Conference play. The Mustangs (2-2) will travel to Eastern Washington on Saturday, September 26 for their next conference opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ from Roos Field. Meanwhile, SBCC will look to rebound when they host Ventura College later this week.
Cal Poly entered the matchup coming off a narrow 38-34 victory over Idaho in their August 28 Big Sky opener. The homecoming tradition at Spanos Stadium has historically been a strong asset for the Mustangs, making this late collapse particularly painful for the coaching staff and student body. The Toreros, operating as a non-scholarship program, continue to prove resilient in tough conference matchups.
While the homecoming celebration ended in heartbreak for San Luis Obispo, the Mustangs showed resilience and offensive firepower that bodes well for the remainder of the season. Fans and athletes alike will regroup quickly as the team prepares to face Eastern Washington in a crucial upcoming conference showdown.
