Grand Canyon University held off a late surge from Cal Poly to win a key California Conference game 13-10 on Sunday.

New GCU Head Coach Sean O'Leary said he still isn't sure what his team is, but the 'Lopes put in an impressive defensive performance, holding the Mustangs to ust the one try, prop Jasper Stone powering over with 26 minutes left.

That try made it 13-10 with Patrick Madden's conversion. But GCU had established a lead thanks in part to flyhalf Royce Fisher's boot. Fisher and Madden traded penalty goals in the first 20 minutes, and it remained that close into halftime. Fisher's second penalty made it 6-3 at the middle of the game. 

Five minutes into the second half, hooker Rayden Tuaua put GCU up 11-3 with a try, and Fisher's conversion made it 13-3. That was enough as the 'Lopes absorbed Cal Poly's comeback attempt.

Meanwhile, Saint Mary's is on tour in Japan, but the players who did not tour played a league game against UC Santa Barbara. That was a good fixture to arrange, as the Gaels were heavily favored and their 1st 15 would have likely won by a big score. Instead, with a younger group, Saint Mary's had to work for it.

Freshman flyhalf Karl Keane ran a nice offensive performance for the Gaels and logged two tries and three conversions for 16 points on his own. Flanker Jonathon Hackett and center Erich Storti each scored two tries for Saint Mary's in a 6-17 victory. UCSB got tries from flanker Oliver Wallace, center Samuel Crolla, and reserve William Mein. Brady Connolly added a conversions.  

So all of that tells us this: Saint Mary's has won the games they would be expected to win and now sit 3-0 in the conference. But they still have Cal Poly, GCU, and San Diego State to play.

Grand Canyon has won a key game in the chase for a D1A playoff spot. Cal Poly remains close and if GCU and Cal Poly continue to win, Cal Poly might still have an argument for a playoff position.