Morro Bay tops Atascadero football in dramatic 20-19 thriller
In a dramatic Ocean League showdown that had fans on the edges of their seats, Morro Bay High School’s football team came back from 19-0 deficit at halftime to beat Atascadero Friday.
The two winless Ocean League teams battled to the very end, with Morro Bay prevailing in the final seconds on a blocked field goal, 20-19.
That was after sophomore quarterback Nicky Johnson tossed a 12-yard pinpoint touchdown pass to senior receiver Kevin Franco with about a minute remaining. Franco barely kept his toes in bounds to haul in the game-tying catch.
Then Franco put the Pirates (1-3, 1-2 Ocean League) ahead for good with an extra point kick. in the second half to mount the thrilling comeback.
“This is the best feeling ever,” Franco said. “You’ll never get this ever. It’s something else.”
Johnson, starting his second game at quarterback, said he was able to handle the nerves better with a tad more experience at the varsity level, adding: “Nothing will compare to this. Nothing better than high school football.”
Morro Bay Coach Jake Goossen-Brown described the game as “exciting” and a great test of fortitude.
“These are the types of games you like to be in,” Goossen-Brown said. “Each team is trying their butts off and competing to see who can come out on top. That’s what’s so great about high school football. It’s how you overcome and adapt. That’s what makes you successful.”
Goossen-Brown said his team easily could have given up, down 19-0, but “they didn’t fold and showed their true character by continuing to fight, which they’ve done all year.”
Atascadero starts out strong
Playing in front of a home crowd, cowbells ringing to the chimes of Adrian Gaona, a former student who has held down the role since 2003, the Greyhounds got off to a strong start.
In the first quarter, the Greyhounds completed a 28-yard pass lobbed by quarterback Jarren Fisher to Isaiah Lucio, who found his way to the end zone with good blocking from teammates.
Atascadero tacked on two more scores in the second quarter on a 3-yard run by Aiden LeMoine and a spectacular 35-yard pass from Fisher to Ajai Daner, who hauled in key catches throughout the night.
Morro Bay had the ball in the red zone in the second quarter, but Atascadero’s Cole Tanner recovered a fumble on the 3-yard line.
Tanner also rushed for more than 100 yards, including a 47-yard scamper in the first half.
Morro Bay records first win of season
But Morro Bay stayed in the game with solid tackling in key moments, including sacks from Hayden Brown and Rafael Aguilar.
Goossen-Brown also cited the play of Gannon Campbell, who blocked two extra points and hauled in a key interception to help turn the game in the favor of the Pirates.
Goossen-Brown also said that Franco offered to give up his quarterback position to Johnson to help the team. The coach called Franco a “selfless player” who takes on multiple roles, including tailback, receiver, kick returner and cornerback.
“That’s a true measure of his character as well (to give up his quarterback spot),” Goossen-Brown said.
Franco and Johnson both credited the blocking of the offensive line with helping them complete their touchdown scores.
It was Goossen-Brown’s first Ocean League win in his second year as Morro Bay’s head coach.
He quipped he’d have to ask his “historian coach uncle” over there, Tom Goossen, about the last Morro Bay league win.
Goossen is the former longtime Arroyo Grande High head coach who had many successful seasons leading the Eagles. He now serves as defensive coordinator at Morro Bay.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since Morro Bay has had a league win to tell you the truth,” Goossen-Brown said. “... I’m lucky to have (Coach Tom Goossen) out here. It’s so great to have him out here. I’m learning from him as well.”
Getting a first win
The two schools both came into the game looking for their first win, having dropped their first three games.
Atascadero’s closest contest was a 33-21 loss to Arroyo Grande, followed by two blowouts, 56-6 to Mission Prep and 35-0 to Santa Maria.
The Greyhounds’ sophomore running back, Cole Tanner, came into the game the team’s leading rusher on the season with 196 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Junior quarterback Evan Moscardi came into Friday’s contest with 112 yards rushing on the season. Moscardi didn’t play in the Morro Bay game, however.
Morro Bay’s closest game coming in was a 21-7 loss in the season opener to Santa Maria, before the Pirates also suffered two lopsided losses, 42-8 to Nipomo and 42-0 to Templeton.
Franco and junior running back Dylan Turner are two of the Pirates’ key players. Turner, who separated his shoulder earlier this season but still ran for about 70 yards Friday, was one of the SLO County players working hard in the offseason to train for an uncertain season.
Turner, who kept up his conditioning and weight-training without knowing if games would be held, said he was hoping for at least a modified season before teams were allowed a six-game slate.
“We’re a really tight-knit group of 20 to 25 guys, and we were really looking forward to the season,” Turner told The Tribune in January as a potential cancellation lingered on. “They kept changing the dates on us, and I’ve seen some guys lose motivation and hope.”
Other SLO County scores
Righetti 28, San Luis Obispo 0
Paso Robles, 19, Arroyo Grande 14
Santa Maria 16, Mission Prep 7
St. Joseph 38, Templeton 0
This story was originally published April 10, 2021 at 2:14 AM.
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