SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Tysson Poots caught a 15-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds to play to pull Southern Utah to within 24-23, but one of the most reliable kickers in the country, Ryan Griffith, pulled the extra point wide left, leaving the Thunderbirds on the short end at Cal Poly once again.

After a late Cal Poly field goal staked the Mustangs to a 24-17 lead with 1:51 to play, quarterback Cade Cooper directed a 10-play, 65-yard drive that ended with the touchdown pass to Poots, who went up between two Mustangs to catch the pass.

The real difference in the game, however, were the turnovers.

Despite out-gaining Cal Poly by 81 yards, 200-to-119, in the first half, the Thunderbirds trailed at the break, 14-7, largely because the Mustangs got both turnovers in the first 30 minutes.

With the game tied 7-7, Cooper fumbled and the Mustangs recovered at the SUU 19. Five plays later, Jon Hall ran two yards to stake the Mustangs to the 14-7 lead.

Late in the half, the T-Birds drove inside the Mustangs' 20, but David Fullerton stepped in front of a pass intended for Fesi Sitake in the end zone to thwart an SUU drive.

Cal Poly drew first blood with a 23-yard Jake Romanelli run up the middle at the 6:35 mark of the first period, but the Thunderbirds answered right back with a 12-play, 71-yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard Cooper-to-Jared Ursua touchdown pass.

Southern Utah scored on its first possession of the second half on a one-yard pass from Cooper to Abbel Aiono to tie it at 14-14, but Cal Poly was able to answer. Quarterback Tony Smith ran the option to perfection and capped an eight-play, 63-yard drive for a score.

Griffith pulled Southern Utah to within 21-17 with a 34-yard field goal before Chris Pinto hit the one late for Cal Poly.

Cooper completed 27-of-40 passes for 263 yards — his fourth straight game over 250 yards — as the Thunderbirds outgained Cal Poly 385 yards to 250. SUU had 122 rushing yards and Cal Poly had 228 and just 22 passing yards.

"We lost those turnovers and those negated an outstanding performance by both our offense and our defense tonight," Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb said.