High school football preview: Here’s a look at how SLO County’s teams stack up for fall
After a disrupted and shortened spring football season last school year, San Luis Obispo County high schools are gearing up for a full fall season as most teams open with non-league games this week.
The majority of SLO County schools will kick off the season on Aug. 20 with Atacadero and Templeton first taking the field on Aug. 27. Coast Union opens its eight-man schedule on Sept. 3.
COVID-19 health and safety restrictions in place last year — impacting a traditional season of practices, games and fan attendance.
This fall, coaches and players are eager for a full 10-game schedule, CIF postseason opportunities, and unrestricted fan capacities, with all-league and all-county player recognition taking place as well.
“Everything is in flux still, but I haven’t heard any rules for fans or attendance restrictions,” Morro Bay Coach Jake Goossen-Brown said. “We are hoping to fill the stands and have the rock shaking each Friday night.”
Arroyo Grande Coach Mike Hartman said schools may still receive additional guidance on COVID-19 protocols from the state and county, including any testing requirements.
“The county hasn’t come up with protocols at this point, so it’s a wait-and-see sort of mode,” Hartman said.
Paso Robles Coach Matt Carroll said the season isn’t completely back to normal, as districts wrestle with back-to-school planning.
“The biggest difference is that we are closer to normal,” Carroll said. “It’s not perfectly normal with testing, vaccinations and contact tracing, but closer. It’s nice to have a full squad and not have to share athletes with other sports (due to spring sports scheduling conflicts last year).”
Here’s a look at the nine SLO County football teams, in alphabetical order, including their upcoming schedules and players to watch.
Arroyo Grande
Coming off of a 2-4 spring record, Hartman said his group has had a “great attitude and they’re excited to learn” in preseason practices.
“We never have a goal of winning eight or 10 games,” Hartman said. “The most important game is the one we’re playing that week and going 1-0 each week. We try to produce young men better off than were at the beginning of the season, and building interpersonal relations and work ethic. Winning is a byproduct of all that.”
The Eagles are led by seniors Makai Puga, Danny McKinley and Max Perrett.
Kaden Tynes, who chose baseball over football last spring, will return to the gridiron, playing linebacker and running back.
Perrett threw for 533 yards and a touchdown last season; Puga rushed for 857 yards and 12 touchdowns; McKinley ran for 145 yards in three games, according to team stats on maxpreps.com.
“Puga has had a great offseason, a great couple of months and really stepped into a leadership role,” Hartman said.
Puga and McKinley are among the Eagles’ players hoping to play college ball.
“We’ll see what this season brings and the next steps in their lives,” Hartman said.
The Eagles open the season against Frontier High of Bakersfield at home at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Atascadero
Coming off of an 0-7 spring campaign, which saw some Greyhounds’ players choose other sports and COVID-19 protocols impact the game-day roster, Atascadero is looking to bounce back strong.
“I am excited about the work our team has put in since the end of the shortened season,” said Coach Vic Cooper. “We have built a foundation for success.”
Cooper said the team has a number of seniors filling key positions, such as quarterback Evan Moscardi, who played five of seven games behind center as a junior and threw for 547 yards and three touchdowns, according to maxpreps.com.
Junior Cole Tanner led Atascadero’s rushing attack, tallying 517 yards and three scores on the ground last spring as a sophomore.
Dallas Parish, who recorded 28 spring tackles, returns as a junior.
“We can’t help but improve on 0-7, but the work put in is what will make our season,” Cooper said. “If our youth can step up to meet our senior leadership, it will be a successful season.”
Cooper said team goals are foremost to play with class and honor and “always aim for the top with a league and CIF championship.”
Atascadero opens Aug. 27 at home at 7 p.m. against Torres High of Madera.
Coast Union
Coast Union’s eight-man squad had an “excellent summer of weight training and conditioning,” said Charlie Casale, the Broncos’ offensive coordinator.
The team didn’t have a spring season due to district COVID safety protocols, last playing in 2019 when the team posted a 9-1 record, said Head Coach Andrew Crosby.
The Broncos have 15 upperclassmen out of a group of 21 players, and they’re “expecting to be very competitive and make a good run in the playoffs,” Crosby said.
Casale added: “The goal is always the (Coast Valley) league championship and doing well in the CIF playoffs.”
Casale — who has coached high school football in California for 50 years, including a highly successful two-decade run at Mt. Whitney in Visalia — cited quarterback Emiliano “Emi” Peña as a key player to watch with a combo pass and power run game and one with “a chance to play at the next level.”
Crosby added: “He leads his teammates by example and has a determination to win.”
Receivers Caiden Kennedy (team captain) and Cesar Gomez run “excellent routes,” and running backs Chino Estrada, Miguel Ramirez, and Diego Fernandes “run and block hard,” Casale said.
Offensive lineman Anthony Avilez, Manny Mercado, Chris Chaffin and Adair Ponce will provide the protection up front.
“We’re going to have a successful season if everyone does their job,” Crosby said. “. ...We’ve really drilled down pursuing the ball carrier, pressuring the QB, and making tackles on first contact.”
Coast Union opens its season on the road on Sept. 3 at Anzar High, based in San Juan Bautista.
Morro Bay
Morro Bay (1-4 in spring) will try to improve with weight room training, challenging practices, and careful study of the playbook, according to its coach.
Pirates Coach Jake Goossen-Brown was extremely proud of his team’s competitive spirit, upsetting Atascadero in a 20-19 thriller in April.
“With the quick turnaround, there has been a greater retention of the playbook and schemes with the players, and they have had a lot less down time to forget about football,” Goossen-Brown said. “The (team participation) numbers are still not at a place I would be happy with especially compared to last fall before we were shut down. I think that sport specialization is becoming more prevalent, which is hurting a lot of different programs.”
Goossen-Brown said the team will benefit from the thrill of game-night atmosphere.
“There really is no feeling like playing on Friday nights, even players that have gone on to play in college at Division 1 programs come back and tell me that it is not the same as playing on Friday, pride for your school, team and community,” Goossen-Brown said.
Key players to watch include senior Dylan Turner, whom his coach called “a hard working, determined player with a high football IQ.”
“Dylan played almost every down as the starting running back and linebacker,” Goossen-Brown said. “He is versatile and tough, rarely leaving the field.”
Senior Christian Merril will be a “big contributor on the field,” his coach said, with improved route running this season and weight training.
Junior quarterback Nicky Johnson returns after leading the Pirates back from a 19-point deficit against Atascadero in the Pirates’ Ocean League spring win.
“He has trained hard in this offseason, improved his skills, his vision and athleticism,” Goossen-Brown said. “I believe he will be a big reason for our upcoming success this season. He has a much better understanding of the playbook, and his IQ has gone through the roof. “
The coach added: “Our goals are always the same. Go into each game and compete our butts off.”
Morro Bay opens on the road against San Marcos High of Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Mission Prep
The Royals (3-2 in spring) are looking to build around an experienced group and a system of “culture and trust,” said Coach David Schuster.
“We’ve been able to train and build together during the offseason, so there’s much better trust and discipline than there was during spring,” Schuster said. “It has just been a deep feeling of relief and thankfulness that we can operate and spend time together the way we all want to. It’s been a very happy offseason with this team.”
The Royals return the “entire team from spring minus one senior, and this team has already shown a great ability to adapt and overcome with each other,” Schuster said.
Players to watch include: Colby White at quarterback; Jack Susank, Andrew Abbate and Drew Harrigan on the rushing attack; Tyler Garret, J.J. Howard and David Andrade receiving; and Caleb Alalem, who “leads the biggest offensive line I’ve had since I’ve been the head coach here,” Schuster said.
White threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in three games played, according to maxpreps.com.
Susank, whose committed to play at Pomona Pitzer next year, rushed for 506 yards and five spring scores. Alalem has had “conversations with several (colleges) but no offers yet,” his coach said.
At defense, every starter from the spring returns, with the following key players: Jacob Butler, Connor Lopez and the Luera twins, juniors Mario and David, who combined for 95 tackles last spring to lead the squad.
“Caden Elmerick and George Kardashian are great secondary players and we have a very deep defensive line led by Ryan Audet and Eli Greidanus,” Schuster said.
Mission Prep opens at home against Brentwood School at 6 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Nipomo
Titans Coach Tony Dodge said it will be “great to have fans back in the stands again” as Nipomo comes off a 4-1 spring.
“There’s nothing like Friday night lights under a packed house with the high school band and cheerleaders and all,” Dodge said. “Normal practice lead-up is crucial this season to help prevent injuries for the full schedule we will play. We are all still getting used to the old normal once again.”
The Titans’ coach said he excited to see his team compete after getting moved up to the Mountain League, facing opponents such as Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, and St. Joseph of Santa Maria.
“Our team goal is always to battle for a league and CIF championship,” Dodge said.
Key players to watch include Nate Reese, an all-league quarterback and fourth-year varsity player; Vincent Hernandez, a senior defensive lineman and running back; senior Nick Milton, a wide receiver and defensive back; and Leo Toledo, a senior defensive end and fullback. Each is a college hopeful.
Reese threw for 731 yards and five touchdowns in five games in the spring, rushing for 193 yards, according to maxpreps.com.
“We are going to have to play tough and physical football in order to have success this season,” Dodge said. “I believe you have to have good leadership and take care of the football to also be successful.”
Nipomo opens at home at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 against Santa Ynez.
Paso Robles
Paso Robles posted a 5-2 spring record, beating each of its SLO County opponents, as it fields a large group of returning players.
“The experience from the spring carrying over to the fall and added depth will help us,” Carroll said.
Carroll’s lineup features senior Trevon Bridewell at quarterback; Bastiaan Jaureguy, a senior linebacker; junior noseguard Leo Kemp; junior defensive back Trevor Lambeth; junior linebacker Jake Morones; and senior offensive lineman Dom Weber.
Last year, the Bearcats used multiple running backs, including Morones and Kemp, to keep defense’s off balance.
Kemp posted three rushing touchdowns in a 34-20 win against Templeton in April.
Keys to success will include “running the ball well and playing good defense while improving our short passing game,” Carroll said.
“Our goal is to improve upon our spring season and continue to improve with each game,” Carroll said.
The Bearcats open on the road against Lompoc on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo High’s coach Pat Johnston said the team has been “thrilled to perform a more normalized training camp as we head into this season.”
“The lead-up to the season is critical in allowing our players to play the game safely and effectively,” Johnston said. “Getting back to having our whole squad with us full-time as we prepare for games is also a huge plus.”
The team, which had to share some players with other sports in the spring, will try to improve on an 0-5 record in last year’s condensed season.
This year’s group includes key players such as: senior linebacker and offensive lineman Rory Devaney; senior quarterback Blayke Perry; junior Brody Johnson, whom Johnston expects to be a major contributor at wide receiver and defensive back; junior Luca Cuccaro at linebacker; senior Jack Krill who “has a huge leg in the kicking game,” Johnston said, and will be embarking on his third year as a varsity kicker; junior Eli Smiley.
Devaney, Perry and Krill hope to play at the next level in college, Johnston said.
The Tigers’ coach said they team rarely talks about “championships, playoff runs, (and other aspirations) in our program this early in the season.”
“We focus on winning each day and continuing to focus on the things that we can control, which are effort and knowing what to do at every turn throughout a football game,” Johnston said.
SLO High opens at 7 p.m. on the road Aug. 20 against Pioneer Valley of Santa Maria.
Templeton
The Eagles are returning after a 4-3 spring campaign, including wins against Arroyo Grande (first ever in school history), Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo.
Coach Don Crow said his crew has been practicing in the North County summer heat and the team is excited to return to a “excellent home crowd” without having to share field training times as much with other sports.
“We are extremely young,” Crow said. “Losing 17 starters will be a tough hill to climb. Lots of new faces on the field for the Eagles. It will be exciting to see how they come together as a team and learn to play to our standard.”
Seniors Austin Marquart (defensive end, tight end) and Kale Loppnow (receiver) and junior Landen Miller (wingback and cornerback) are among the team leaders.
Loppnow caught 20 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown in seven spring games, according to maxpreps.com. Marquart tallied 47 tackles.
“Marquart and Loppnow played the most of our returning players,” Crow said. “We will have a whole new offensive line and quarterback (Noel Brady).”
Crow said coaches are doing a lot of teaching of fundamentals as the school couldn’t offer a JV program last year.
“We feel that we need to play with passion and be smart with the football and we will have a successful season,” Crow said. “Being moved back to the Ocean League will be a benefit for such a young team.”
Templeton opens on the road against Coalinga on Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct Atascadero’s current roster.
This story was originally published August 18, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
%20Cropped.jpg)