Utah Tech Feasts on Four Cal Poly Interceptions
Four interceptions. Cal Poly threw for 341 yards, outgained Utah Tech through the air by more than a hundred, and still lost by 17, because the Mustangs also lost two fumbles. Six turnovers against one lost fumble on the other side is not a recipe for a Saturday win.
Cal Poly did start well. A 15-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Grigsby Jr. to Alek Marshall, plus a two-point conversion, made it 8-0 in the first quarter. Utah Tech answered with a 22-yard score from Zay Akinsanya, then a 2-yard run from Deacon Hill, and the Mustangs never led again. Max Shepherd kicked field goals from 50, 29 and 35 yards, and Utah Tech took a 20-11 lead into the break and 27-11 on Hill's touchdown pass to Ace Chatman in the third.
Cal Poly got within 27-19 on a 1-yard Tyrei Washington run and another two-point try, and then the game tilted for good. Shepherd's 35-yarder made it 30-19, and Prince Zombo Jr. recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown (the extra point was blocked) to make it 36-19. Hill added a 5-yard run with 1:57 left. Cal Poly's last touchdown, a 31-yarder from Bo Kelly to Hudson Giarritta with 17 seconds on the clock, only polished the 43-26 final.
The ground game tells the rest. Utah Tech ran 32 times for 153 yards and sacked Cal Poly four times. Cal Poly ran 31 times for 42 yards.
Utah Tech moves to 1-6, a record that undersells a team that just scored 43. Cal Poly falls to 3-4. For fantasy, Hill was the story: 32.2 points from two rushing scores and a touchdown pass, easily his best game, while Grigsby's four picks held a 341-yard passing day down to 14.6.