USD routed by Cal Poly in season opener

The University of San Diego campus looked like Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras on Saturday. The one-mile drive from the base of Linda Vista Road to the main campus entrance took 40 minutes late in the afternoon.

Cause of the commotion? It was Ole Weekend, when all first-year and transfer students storm the campus to move into dorms.  Jenny Craig Pavilion was packed for a welcome by USD president James T. Harris III.

Many of the students moseyed over to Torero Stadium to take in USD’s 2025 football season opener against Cal Poly.

An impressive debut by the Toreros, it was not.

In front of an announced sellout crowd of 5,806, the non-scholarship Toreros got hammered by the scholarship Mustangs 41-17. On the positive side, the Toreros showed some grit, battling back from a 24-0 deficit.

Perhaps motivated by losing to USD 27-21 in last year’s opener, the Mustangs dominated from the get-go. Cal Poly scored on its first three possessions for a 17-0 lead. With 14:15 to play in the second quarter, USD was still looking for its initial first down and had been outgained 189 yards to 16.

Cal Poly bolted 75 yards on nine plays for its first TD, a 12-yard pass from 6-foot-6 Ty Dieffenbach to Michael Briscoe. The drive was aided by a pass interference penalty.

On its second drive, Cal Poly covered 72 yards on 10 plays, Dieffenbach this time connecting with Briscoe for a 14-yard TD. The drive was aided by a pass interference penalty.

On its third drive, Cal Poly settled for a 30-yard field goal. Again, the drive was aided by a pass interference penalty.

Cal Poly did USD a favor by letting the athletic and accurate Dieffenbach, who spent two seasons at Pitt, sit out the next two drives. The Mustangs didn’t gain a first down either series.

With 2:21 to play in the half and up 17-0, Dieffenbach stepped back on the field. On first down, he completed a 42-yard pass to Briscoe. Three plays later, Dieffenbach took off on a quarterback draw. The USD second-level defensive seas parted and the quarterback sprinted 43 yards for a touchdown and 24-0 lead, holding the ball aloft the final seven yards.

Dieffenbach finished 18 of 27 for 263 yards and the two TDs, plus rushed for 69 yards and the score.

USD averted a first-half shutout when Mater Dei Catholic alum Dom Nankil heaved a Hail Mary into the end zone on the final play from scrimmage and after a Cal Poly deflection, connected with Bradley Schlom for a 45-yard TD.

Nankil completed 19 of 30 passes for 201 yards and one TD. He rushed for 34 yards on 14 carries and was sacked five times.