SAN DIEGO — San Diego football (0-1, 0-0 PFL) dropped a hard-fought 28-17 decision to Cal Poly (1-0, 0-0 Big Sky) on Saturday afternoon at Torero Stadium, keeping a matchup against a scholarship program to within a single possession for the majority of its first home game of the 2021 season.
The Toreros jumped out to a 7-0 advantage midway through the first quarter when quarterback
Mason Randall dashed into the end zone for a one-yard rushing touchdown. The score was preceded by a 65-yard drive down the field that featured a 14-yard reception by tight end
Michael Gadinis, a five-yard rush by
Emilio Martinez, a 32-yard reception by Gadinis, and a three-yard rush by Martinez that put San Diego on the Mustangs' one yard line.
Cal Poly immediately answered back with a score of their one the ensuing drive, marching 75 yards down the field for a touchdown to knot the game at 7-7 after Shakobe Harper rushed into the endzone. By halftime they'd lead 14-7, adding on via a 35-yard pass from Spencer Brasch to Chris Coleman but failing to convert on a pair of field goals in the half's final six minutes.
San Diego pulled within four points after kicker
Brandon Eickert converted a 25-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter, but it would get no closer. Cal Poly added 14 points in the game's final quarter when Xavier Moore hauled in a nine-yard touchdown pass, then Elijah Ponder recorded an interception then ran 75-yards for the score.
Trailing 28-10 with 3:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, USD added one final score after Randall connected with
Bennett Dondoyano for a seven-yard touchdown pass to make it a 28-17 game, though it would finish with the same score.
Gadnis finished with 83 yards to lead the USD receivers and
Terrence Smith notched 82 yard on the ground to lead the Torero rushers. Randall was 29-44 passing for a total of 254 yards, notching a single touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
The Toreros continue their homestand and stretch of games against Big Sky opponents with a matchup against UC Davis next Saturday. Kickoff at Torero Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
