Bo Kelly leads Cal Poly to 32-24 Big Sky opening win at Sac State

Cal Poly football opened conference play with a statement win on the road, beating No. 21-ranked Sacramento State 32-24 while overcoming uncertainty at quarterback as fourth-stringer Bo Kelly guided the Mustangs to victory.

Coming into the game, Cal Poly’s quarterback situation was in question after starting quarterback Ty Dieffenbach took a hit last week and exited for the remainder of the game and Anthony Grigsby Jr.’s health status also remained unclear after he didn’t step in for Dieffenbach against Stephen F. Austin.

Although Grigsby practiced in the days leading up to the game against the Hornets and was suited up at kickoff, it was Kelly who saw got the start for the Mustangs.

Kelly gave the Mustangs a spark from start to finish, pairing efficient passing with good decision-making as he handled the role on his own in a game where Cal Poly (3-2, 1-0 Big Sky) typically relies on a two-quarterback rotation.

Cal Poly also came back from two-first half deficits, while relying on its defense to hold the lead.

Sac State (2-3, 0-1 Big Sky) got on the board first, marching down the field on its opening possession and scored a touchdown, making it the fourth consecutive game in which the Hornets have found the end zone on their first drive.

But instead of folding after falling behind, Cal Poly answered with an 18-0 run.

Brian Dukes Jr. put the Mustangs on the board with a 25-yard pick-six, a defensive spark that swung energy back to the visitors. Cal Poly went for two and converted, seizing a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Kelly showed his arm strength on a 55-yard strike to Jordan Garrison that stretched the field and kept the Hornets on their heels. A field goal capped off the quarter, giving the Mustangs an 18-7 advantage after 15 minutes.

With Kelly under center, Cal Poly looked sharper and more composed than last week. The 18-point surge was their highest-scoring first quarter since at least 2018, giving them an early cushion against the Hornets.

Meanwhile, as the Mustangs’ offense attacked vertically, the defense generated a total of three first-half interceptions of Sac State quarterback Cardell Williams — two by Dukes and one by Jeremiah Bernard.

The Hornets cut into the deficit by opening the second quarter with a touchdown and took a short-lived lead on 15-year touchdown run by Williams.

But Cal Poly’s defensive takeaways and improved run game proved the difference, with Cal Poly reclaiming the lead in the final minutes of the first half on a 1-yard run by Tyrei Washington.

The Hornets would not find the end zone again after halftime, managing only a field goal the rest of the way.

Run games come alive

Since the start of the season, Cal Poly’s run game had been a chronic concern.

Much of the Mustangs’ early rushing production had come from Dieffenbach, who often picked up yards on the ground when plays broke down.

But even without Dieffenbach, something clicked Saturday night.

By the end of the third quarter, Cal Poly had outgained Sacramento State on the ground, even piling up more rushing yards than passing yards of their own — a huge development for a team that has been far more dominant through the air this season.

The sudden balance gave the Mustangs a new dimension on offense and showed tangible progress in an area Head Coach Paul Wulff had stressed needed improvement heading into Big Sky play.

Washington led the way on the ground, finishing with 113 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Trey Wilson added steady runs to complement his backfield partner. The offensive line controlled the trenches, opening lanes that had been missing earlier this season.

On the other side of the ball, Cal Poly’s defense kept the pressure on Sacramento State, forcing turnovers and disrupting rhythm throughout the night, not allowing the Hornets to find the end zone at all in the second half. The takeaways gave the offense short fields and opportunities to capitalize.

Kelly did the rest, managing the offense with composure and distributing the ball between his wide receivers and running backs.

With the passing game still a threat and the ground attack finally producing, the Mustangs displayed the kind of balance they had been searching for all season as Big Sky play begins.

Kelly finished with 203 passing yards, while his running backs combined for 178 yards on the ground.

Depth pays off as Mustangs match last season’s win total

Coming into conference play with uncertainty at quarterback, the Mustangs showed they could still be well-rounded across their roster. Earlier this season, Wulff noted that Cal Poly had depth at several positions, a factor that has already proven valuable in navigating injuries and shifting roles.

At 3-2 overall, Cal Poly has already matched its total win output from all of last season, and conference play has just begun.

With a balanced attack and depth on display, Cal Poly leaves Sacramento with its first Big Sky win and momentum heading into next week’s annual Battle for the Golden Horseshoe against UC Davis.

The matchup will be a chance for the Mustangs to prove whether their improved run game and overall balance can hold up in back-to-back conference contests.

The Mustangs head home to host UC Davis on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m. on ESPN+.