5 SLO County football teams moving on after big first-round playoffs games. Here’s who won
Arroyo Grande (8-3) opened with a commanding 49-21 win against Madera (4-7) in the first round to kick off the 2021 CIF-Central Section playoffs.
The Eagles were one of five San Luis Obispo County teams who will move on after winning this week. And another barely missed out in a loss in overtime.
Playing at home, the Eagles showcased a complete performance on offense and defense as Arroyo Grande came bursting out of the gate and didn’t let up.
Quarterback Max Perrett connected on several consecutive passes to his receivers in the first half, working to near perfection with only a few miscues on targets.
Makai Puga, the Eagles’ standout running back and defensive back, had perhaps the defensive play of the season with a 103-yard interception return for a touchdown as the clock ran out in the second quarter, just before a display of fireworks was set off at the far side of the field symbolic of the Eagles’ 49-point night.
“I knew they were going to the end zone because they had only a couple seconds left,” Puga said. “(Coyotes quarterback Beau Green) threw across his body, and I had to take it away from the receiver. I’m just glad it was halftime right there.”
Puga said the Eagles are a close team with strong friendships and “we didn’t want to go out tonight.”
Perrett, a junior, threw for a touchdown and ran for another, connecting with Damian Santos in the first half on a 22-yard strike, and kept the chains moving throughout the night with quarterback keepers and throws for first downs to senior Max Wulff.
“I have a lot a lot of trust in my line,” Perrett said. “I really trust them, and my targets are great receivers.”
After no playoffs took place last year, Perrett said this postseason is bringing a lot of excitement to the school.
“It’s super exciting and pretty new to me because of how last year went,” he said. “It’s super exciting to see how the crowd just gets into it. ... I’m trusting the pocket, just staying calm, and then (setting) my feet and then throwing on time.”
Other players who got in on the scoring action were Tynes with 3-yard and 18-yard rushing scores and Koa Kopcho with a second-half punch-in. Puga also ran for a touchdown.
“Playoffs is a new kind of animal,” said Coach Mike Hartman. “That’s because it’s a meritocracy. If you want to keep playing, you have to earn it. So that’s what we talked about that was our message this week to our guys. And you know, we came out and we earned the right to come back and do this again next week.”
The Eagles face Washington Union of Fresno at home next Friday in the Division 3 CIF-Central Section bracket.
Here were other first-round SLO County playoff results.
Mission Prep 21, Lemoore 12
The Royals (10-0) remained undefeated with a big win in Division 2 CIF-Central Section action over Lemoore (8-3). Mission Prep’s Jack Susank had three touchdowns and two interceptions, and Mario Luera recorded an interception.
Mission Prep moves on to face Bakersfield next Friday.
Ridgeview 22, San Luis Obispo 14 (OT)
The Tigers (6-4) lost a heartbreaker to the Wolf Pack from Bakersfield, which improved to 2-7 on the season. The game was played at at Morro Bay’s stadium because SLO’s field is under renovation.
Tigers quarterback Jace Gomes rushed for an 11-yard score and completed a 59-yard pass to Eli Smiley Rooney for a touchdown to give SLO a 14-0 lead in the first half. But the Wolf Pack scored on a rush in overtime to steal a win on the road in the Division 5 bracket.
Nipomo 34, Mt. Whitney 7
The No. 1 seeded Titans (7-3) in the Division 4 bracket cruised to a home win against their opponent from Visalia, who fell to 2-7 on the year.
The Titans next face Highland of Bakersfield.
Paso Robles 24, Tulare Union 21
Playing on the road on Thursday night, the Bearcats (7-3) won in a nail-biter that came down to a defensive stop to end the game in the Division 3 bracket.
Tulare Union (5-5) tried to win the game on an end zone pass that was well defended with 6 seconds left.
Paso Robles quarterback Trevon Bridewell connected with Bastiaan Jaureguy in the end zone on a 35-yard touchdown pass on fourth and long to put the Bearcats up by two touchdowns in the third quarter. Bridewell also connected with Diego Chavez on a 37-yard score.
The Bearcats next match up against Dinuba, a school located outside of Fresno.
Righetti 28, Atascadero 6
The Greyhounds (3-8) ended their season with a lopsided loss on the road to the Warriors (2-8) in Division 5.
The Greyhounds’ only score came in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard rush, according to MaxPreps.com.
North 40, Templeton 22
The Eagles (5-6) came up short in the home battle against their opponent from Bakersfield, taking an early 7-0 lead, and pulling even to 15-15 in the second quarter.
But North (4-5) held a 22-15 edge at the half and didn’t yield their lead after that in the Division 5 bracket.
Coast Union 75, Calvary Baptist 12
The Broncos rolled to a big win at home in eight-man football.
Morro Bay (bye)
Morro Bay (4-6) had a bye this week and faces East Bakersfield (4-7) on Friday in Division 6.
This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 11:26 PM.
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