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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Junior placekicker Andrew Gardner booted a 21-yard field goal as time expired to lift Cal Poly to a 29-27 victory over San Diego State in a season-opening non-conference football game Saturday night before 26,851 in Qualcomm Stadium.

The Aztecs had taken a 27-26 lead, their first advantage of the game, with 6:51 to play as sophomore running back Brandon Sullivan ran five yards for the score. A pass attempt for a two-point conversion fell incomplete, leaving San Diego State with a one-point lead.

The visiting Mustangs, ranked No. 14 in the preseason Sports Network media and FCS coaches polls, turned the ball over on downs with 4:24 to play, but held San Diego State on its next possession, getting the ball back with 3:39 to go..

Cal Poly drove from its own 33-yard line to the Aztec 4. Completions to Ramses Barden spanning 13 and 10 yards plus a 29-yard run by senior slotback James Noble set up the winning field goal by Gardner.

Cal Poly took advantage of four San Diego State turnovers in the first half alone for a 16-7 advantage at the break.



After scoring the first two points on a safety midway through the first quarter – Sean Lawyer and James Chen tackling Brandon Sullivan in the end zone -- the Mustangs also scored on the next drive after San Diego State’s free kick.

Senior quarterback Jonathan Dally capped the 63-yard, seven-play march with a 22-yard pass to Barden with 3:07 to play in the opening period. Gardner’s extra-point kick gave Cal Poly a 9-0 lead.

The Aztecs finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter as freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley hit Sullivan with a 16-yard scoring pass with 5:41 to play before halftime.

San Diego State held Cal Poly on the next series of downs and drove to the Mustangs’ 42-yard line, but nose tackle James Chen hit Lindley, forced a fumble and Carlton Gillespie recovered the loose ball for the Mustangs.

Four plays later, Cal Poly hit paydirt as Ryan Mole ran eight yards for another touchdown. Gardner’s PAT kick with 1:32 remaining in the second quarter gave the Mustangs a 16-7 advantage at the break.

Two San Diego State touchdown passes by Lindley sandwiched around a one-yard sneak by Dally left Cal Poly with a 23-21 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Gardner kicked a 23-yard field goal with 14:50 to play in the game for a 26-21 Cal Poly lead.

Sullivan’s five-yard run gave the Aztecs the lead for the first time, 27-26 – a pass attempt on a two-point conversion fell incomplete – and Gardner’s 21-yarder as time ran out enabled Cal Poly to beat San Diego State for the second time in three years. The Mustangs earned a 16-14 victory in 2006, also at Qualcomm Stadium, on a 37-yard field goal by Nick Coromelas with 1:50 to play.

Cal Poly enjoyed a 483-379 advantage in total offense but trailed in first downs, 23-21. The Mustangs also compiled a 16-minute advantage in time of possession .

Noble finished with 89 yards on 11 carries while Mole added 84 yards on 12 trips. Dally completed 12 of 21 passes for 220 yards, with Barden catching seven passes for 161 yards.

For San Diego State, Sullivan rushed for 43 yards on 15 carries and caught nine passes for 64 yards. Lindley, in his first college start, completed 27 of 45 passes for 352 yards and three scores.

Mustang linebacker Fred Hives II notched 10 tackles while fellow linebacker Marty Mohamed recorded eight. Chen, who missed most of the 2007 season after injuring a knee in the opener, finished with a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, a sack and assisted on the safety.

Cal Poly plays its home opener next Saturday, hosting Montana at 6:05 p.m. in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. It will be the season opener for the Grizzlies.

Photos courtesy Matt Brown and Associated Press