Question marks surrounded who would be under center for Cal Poly football as they opened their season against the University of San Diego on Saturday.
Neither of the two incumbent quarterbacks from last season drew the starting assignment, and instead Pitt transfer Ty Dieffenbach was given the keys to the offense.
The decision proved to be the correct one, as the Mustangs (1-0) took down the Toreros (0-1) in a 41-17 blowout.
It took just three minutes for Dieffenbach to lead the team down the field, connecting with wide receiver Michael Briscoe on a slant route for the first score of the season.
Then the defense forced a quick three-and-out, before Dieffenbach and Briscoe again connected to make it a 14-0 game.
The Mustangs were off to the races.
Dieffenbach would score himself on a 42-yard quarterback draw to make it 24-0 with just a minute left in the first half.
San Diego threatened to make it competitive late in the game with a touchdown to start the fourth quarter making it a 27-17, but Cal Poly would shut them out the rest of the way, scoring two touchdowns of their own in the final quarter.
Briscoe was in mid-season form, hauling in seven catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Zion Hall and Tyrei Washington split the carries in the backfield for the Mustangs, Hall running for 48 yards on 12 carries, while Washington found the endzone once in his 11 touches.
The running back position was up for grabs to start the season following 2024 leading rusher Aiden Ramos transferring, but neither Hall nor Washington made a significant case for the lead role in the opening contest.
Cal Poly totaled 334 yards through the air, with both Dieffenbach and Anthony Grigsby Jr. throwing for touchdowns.
Under both quarterbacks the team moved the ball with ease, taking advantage of Torero penalties to string scoring drives together.
Cal Poly football will take their momentum into Salt Lake City and Rice-Eccles Stadium, with a matchup against the Utah Utes on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m.
