Prep football: Arroyo Grande looks to rebound, Paso Robles faces tough test

By Travis Gibson

September 1, 2016 5:49 PM

Nate Avery makes a run for Templeton as they hosted Nipomo for their homecoming football game in 2015. David Middlecamp 10-30-2015. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

A look at this week’s high school football games involving San Luis Obispo County teams:

Tribune Sports Game of the Week: Strathmore at Templeton, 7:30 p.m.

It will be Templeton High School’s first game of the season, and it is also expected to be the first time former football player Isaac Lindsey attends a game since suffering a traumatic brain injury in the third game of the 2015 season. Lindsey won’t be in pads, but he will be on the sideline in support of his team as they take on Strathmore (1-0) and Joseph Garcia, the Spartans running back who rushed for 261 yards and five touchdowns last Friday.

Garces Memorial (Bakersfield) at Arroyo Grande, 7 p.m.

It’s only the second game of the season for Arroyo Grande, but this week’s matchup against a Central Section (DII) foe is already huge for the Eagles coming off a 28-14 loss to Lompoc to open the season. Arroyo Grande (0-1) struggled to stop the run against Lompoc and will faces a Garces (1-0) team that had two players rush for more than 100 yards in a win over Bakerfield Christian last week.

San Marcos (Santa Barbara) at Morro Bay, 7 p.m.

Morro Bay’s defense dominated in a 10-7 win over Viewpoint last week to open the season and end an 11-game losing streak. This week, Morro Bay (1-0) will have a chance to start 2-0 when it faces a San Marcos (0-1) team that was shut out by Santa Ynez last Friday, 52-0.

Lompoc at Nipomo, 7 p.m.

The last team Nipomo wanted to see coming off a rough loss to Pioneer Valley last week is Lompoc. Nipomo (1-0) struggled control the defensive line of scrimmage against Pioneer Valley and now will face Lompoc (1-0), a team that boasts one of the best rushing attacks in the area.

Atascadero at Ventura, 7 p.m.

Atascadero looked good on both sides of the ball in a 36-24 win over Foothill to open the season, but the Greyhounds will face a tougher test in game two. Atascadero (1-0) must stop Ventura (1-0) running back Broc Mortensen, who rushed for 264 yards and tied a school record with six touchdowns in a 58-14 win over traditional powerhouse Thousand Oaks last Friday.

Frontier (Bakersfield) at Paso Robles, 7 p.m.

Paso Robles (1-0) plays host to Central Section team (DI) Frontier in its home opener coming off a dominating performance in a 35-10 win over Lemoore. Christian Erickson and company will aim to stop a Frontier (1-0) team that dismantled Cabrillo last Friday, 42-6.

Mission Prep at Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara), 7:30 p.m.

Mission Prep opens its 2016 season on the road in Santa Barbara. Mission Prep senior quarterback Bryce Fledderman will look to get the Royals off to a fast start against a Bishop Diego (1-0) team that shut out Righetti, 21-0, last Friday.

Pioneer Valley at San Luis Obispo, 2 p.m., Saturday

San Luis Obispo opened the season with a loss to Santa Maria High and will face another tough Santa Maria team in Pioneer Valley. The Tigers defense will aim to stop Panthers running back Emmanuel Alcantar who rushed for 186 yards last week against Nipomo.

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Prep football: Arroyo Grande looks to rebound, Paso Robles faces tough test."