It didn’t take long for new Templeton High football coach Dan Loney to get his first win, as the Eagles rode their rushing offense to a 31-13 road victory over Central Valley Christian on Friday in both teams’ season opener.
Taking over for former head coach Dave Harper, who stepped down after leading the Eagles to a 8-5 record last season, Loney said he couldn’t be happier to get his first win under his belt.
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“It’s a bit of a relief,” Loney said. “We played well enough to get the win and if we can learn as we win, that’s what we are looking for.”
Under Loney, the Eagles started scoring early. Scott Lawson ran in a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and Connor Truhitte added another score in the second, from 8 yards out.
Cameron Silzer then hit a 37-yard field goal to give Templeton a 17-0 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Matt Arace found paydirt on a 5-yard run, and Lawson scored again from 1 yard out, putting Templeton up 31-0. Overall, Templeton gained 334 yards of total offense with 290 rushing. Arace ran for a team-high 147 yards.
While the Eagles ran well, their passing game amassed just 44 yards. However, it’s something Loney said he plans to work on in the upcoming weeks.
“We had an excellent run game and we’re working on the pass,” Loney said. “It’s coming along. Every week we are going to put things in and try to throw the ball a little more.”
Quarterback Andy Garretson went 3 for 8 for 17 yards through the air, and teammate Alex Elterman went 3 for 6 with 27 yards and an interception for Templeton.
Panthers kicker Frank Alcantar nailed a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give Pioneer Valley (1-0) the road victory over the Titans (0-1).
The Vikings held off the Tigers in a marathon game as a Garrett Giovannelli pass from the 15-yard line fell incomplete for San Luis Obispo as time expired in the season opener for both teams.
Giovannelli rushed for 124 yards and threw for 166 more and had three total touchdowns. Trevor MacLeod caught five passes for 83 yards and two scores.
Jacob Flores scored on a 12-yard scamper with 1:53 to give the Tigers the lead before the Vikings were able to march down and score with 1:03 to go in the game.
The Royals (1-0) scored on their first play from scrimmage, a 55-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Baty to Joey Hall, and never looked back as Mission Prep put up 48 first-half points in its season opener at Avenal.
The Royals defense was dominant from the outset, giving up no first downs, zero passing yards, and just three rushing yards on 22 attempts.
Baty and Hall found their rhythm early, connecting on three first-half touchdowns.
Hall finished with five catches for 116 yards and four total touchdowns and had a 70-yard punt return in the first quarter. Baty finished 9 of 13 passing for 176 yards and four touchdowns, Patrick Laird had six rushes for 40 yards and a touchdown, and Michael Cardwell had three rushes for 25 yards and a touchdown for the Royals.
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