TROY, Alabama - Troy converted a pair of fake Cal Poly punts into a touchdown and field goal late in the first quarter and never looked back, defeating the Mustangs 27-10 in a season-opening non-conference football game Saturday night at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium.

The Mustangs lost seven yards on the two fourth-down plays and the Trojans scored on a 34-yard field goal by Greg Whibbs and a four-yard touchdown run by Kenny Cattouse for a 17-0 lead with 3:20 left in the first quarter.

Cal Poly, playing its first Division I-A opponent since the 2003 season, rallied for 10 second-quarter points.

Jonah Russell scored a touchdown on a one-yard run around left end with 7:35 remaining in the first half.

Five minutes later, Adam Torosian recovered a Troy fumble, setting up a 19-yard field goal by Nick Coromelas with 1:09 left and trimming Troy's lead at halftime to 17-10.

Troy's defense stiffened in the second half, holding Cal Poly to just 48 yards in total offense while the Trojan offense produced a 35-yard field goal by Whibbs with 8:48 left in the third quarter and a 21-yard touchdown pass from Carl Meadows to Gary Banks with 2:43 left in the game.

Redshirt freshman Matt Brennan replaced Mustang starter John Mende at quarterback late in the first quarter and, despite two injuries -- sprained left wrist and a cut on his forehead -- completed six of 10 passes for 33 yards.

Mende was 4-for-5 for 35 yards, including a 34-yarder to Anthony Randolph, setting up the Mustangs' only touchdown of the game.

Randolph, Adam Martinez and Jason Holmes each caught two passes for Cal Poly. Top Mustang rusher was Brennan with 33 yards on 10 carries. Martinez added 26 yards on seven trips while Russell had 24 yards on 11 carries.

Cal Poly gained 139 yards in total offense while Troy amassed 278 yards.

The Mustangs are 2-5 in games against Division I-A schools since moving to Division I-AA in 1994. Cal Poly head coach Rich Ellerson is 2-3 in season openers.

Cal Poly plays its home opener next Saturday, hosting Sacramento State for a 6 p.m. non-conference game in Mustang Stadium. The Hornets fell 41-3 to Cal on Saturday in Berkeley.