2017 November PASO Magazine

SPORTS
SNAP AFTER SNAP, THE BEARCATS TURNED TOWARD
THE PAC 5 AND ENTERED LEAGUE PLAY WITH A BOOM
The Bearcats are moving
the needle, and after
a 1-4 start to a season
rocked with controversy
and coaching changes,
the varsity football team
is putting the Atascadero
Greyhounds in their
crosshairs with the PAC
5 League title on the line on Friday, Nov. 3
at home under the War Memorial Stadium
lights.
Whether the Bearcats are making a run for
a share of the title or the outright sweep depends
on whether they took care of business
against the Righetti Warriors — but whether
the Greyhounds are looking to scratch the
first “L” of the regular season onto the ‘Cats’
record, trying to knock Paso Robles out of
the running for the PAC 5 title altogether, or
whether the two are just dragging it out for
bragging rights amongst those with school
colors pumping through the blood — expect
the unexpected under the Friday night lights.
“If you can’t get up to play that game, there
is something wrong with you,” PRHS head
coach J.R. Reynolds said. “It’s a game where
records go out the window, it doesn’t matter.
It is that rivalry game that you are going
to get something out of them.”
Last year, the Bearcats broke a three-year
losing streak against Atascadero with a definitive,
45-25, win on the Greyhounds’ turf. The
win was a bit sweeter than usual. Interim head
coach Matt Carroll wore the head coach’s
headset and called the shots from the helm
with long-time head coach Rich Schimke sitting
in the stands of his alma mater, watching
his Bearcats take the field without him.
Coaching strife bled into the 2017 season,
and an early resignation by Larry
Grant left the Bearcats again embroiled in
questions and controversy, and Reynolds
stepped in as interim head coach.
Challenged with internal questions about
the direction of the season, the players took
the field against McClymonds, Cajon, Clovis
North, and Sierra Canyon high schools digging
their toes into the turf, looking for more
than just a foothold for a single down.
“The whole goal after the coaching change
was to get them going in the right direction,”
Reynolds said. “We made some changes offensively
and defensively. What we preached
and talked about with the kids is we wanted
to be hitting our stride when we played AG.”
Snap after snap, the Bearcats turned toward
the PAC 5 and entered league play
with a boom — dominating defending
league champion Arroyo Grande with a
28-7 victory. One down, three to go.
“They are a resilient bunch of kids, no other
way to say it,” Reynolds said. “They practice
hard and play hard. They come together as
a group and play for each other. We preach
play for each other and play for the community,
not who the coach is.”
Game two was a given, with a trip to San
Luis Obispo for a whooping on the Tigers
— who have not won a league contest since
October 2013.
“The kids took [the challenges] in stride
and the idea was lets go out and win league,”
Reynolds said. “The kids bought into it and
trusted the process of what we were doing.
By the time we hit AG, we were ready.”
The game with Righetti was a test of the
Bearcats. Righetti entered
the game on
Friday, Oct. 27 with at
least two league wins,
and taking down Paso
Robles would put them
at the top of the heap
with a shot at the PAC
5 title. Results were unavailable
at press time.
BEARCATS VS. GREYHOUNDS, #90
The greatest sports rivalry on the Central
Coast is getting ready for kickoff, with the
Bearcats hosting the Greyhounds on Friday,
Nov. 3 in the 90th meeting between the two.
Since 1920, when Atascadero fielded its first
team and was dismissed to the tune of 119-0
by the big brother Bearcats, the annual game
between the dueling secondary schools has
been the most important sporting event of
the year … unless they met in CIF.
In 89 meetings so far, the Bearcats lead
the series 55-31-2, and recorded the first
seven wins between the two. The series has
run in streaks, with seven winning streaks
between the two teams of three or more,
and the Bearcats hold a record 18-straight
wins, and won 25 of the first 29 games. Adding
another will be a tast for Friday night.
“That night we are playing to be the undisputed
league champs,” Reynolds said.
“We are excited for the game. Any time you
are playing Atascadero it is a packed house.
There is nothing like playing Atascadero at
home, with the stadium seats sitting right on
top of you.”
On Friday, Nov. 3, the Bearcats will be looking
for your support as they take the field at
home for the final game of the regular season.
The junior varsity kicks off at 4 p.m., and
varsity begins at 7 p.m. The frosh team travels
to Atascadero on Thursday, Nov. 2 for a final
game of the season, kicking off at 5 p.m.
J. Scott Reneau
Insurance Agency
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56 PASO Magazine, November 2017