Prep Football: Atascadero wins despite losing two running backs

Despite losing running backs Sterling Bullard and Tanner Thompson to injury, Atascadero High scored the final 21 points to beat Redwood 35-21 Friday in a nonleague football game in Atascadero.

Bullard had eight carries for 134 yards in just over a quarter of play before injuring an ankle.

“(Bullard) had a big first quarter for us,” Greyhounds coach Vic Cooper said. “He reinjured the ankle that he injured in preseason.”

Cooper said that Bullard left at halftime and X-rays were negative and that Bullard would “be OK in the long run.”

After Thompson, who scored with seconds remaining in the second quarter, went down with a neck injury, running back Adam Lopez picked up where his predecessors left off.

Lopez rushed for 112 yards and the final two scores of the game, which proved to be the winning margin.

“(Running back) was a position we felt like we had some pretty good depth in,” Cooper said. “(Lopez) was prepared, and when he got his opportunity he relished it.”

Thompson’s touchdown tied the game at 21 heading to halftime, but the Atascadero defense stepped up in the second half, blanking Redwood.

———— Paso Robles 8, Garfield 7

After three scoreless quarters, Garfield’s Jonathan Lazo broke through Paso Robles’ defense to score the Bulldogs’ first and only touchdown.

Jesse Felgenhauer scored on a 1-yard run against the Bulldogs to put Paso Robles in position to tie or win it. A successful two-point conversion allowed the Bearcats to slip ahead for the victory.

Paso Robles, despite graduating 11 starters off last year’s defense, held a team under 28 points for the first time this season.

My hat goes off to the defense,” Bearcats coach Rich Schimke said. “We had too many turnovers. They really kept us in the game.”

Arroyo Grande 65, Santa Maria 14

Arroyo Grande (3-1) led 30-0 after one quarter and 44-0 at halftime.

Arroyo Grande’s Mykel Blair rushed for 109 yards on 22 carries, leading the Eagles offense. Matt McAustin was 9 for 9 passing for Arroyo Grande for 158 yards.

Arroyo Grande pitched a shutout until the fourth quarter.

Templeton 47, King City 0

The Eagles (3-0) trounced King City on the road, allowing just 76 yards of total offense.

Kory Dearie rushed for 111 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown.

Templeton held King City to just 24 yards on 34 carries.

Tyler Gray caught a 4-yard touchdown pass and returned a blocked punt 25 yards for another score.

Mission Prep 48, Coast Union 14

Mission Prep’s Jedd Hasay threw for 127 yards.

The Royals’ Kevin Laird had 12 rushes for 71 yards, and Hasay had six rushes for 42 yards.

Patrick Foran had two receptions for 76 yards, and added five extra points for Mission Prep (2-2).

Mission Prep’s Matt Howell had a 90-yard touchdown on a punt return in the first quarter and a 15-yard touchdown run in the third.

Coast Union fell to 0-4.