Both teams laid it on the line Friday night, and when one team moved into the lead, the other would snatch it right back.

That’s how the game against the Paso Robles Bearcats and the Atascadero Greyhounds played out on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium. In the end, the Greyhounds hung on for a 24-21 win over the Bearcats, and with it, a share of the PAC 7 league championship title.

“It’s bittersweet,” Paso Robles varsity head coach Rich Schimke said of sharing the crown. “We got beat by a better team tonight — they deserved to win.”

The Greyhounds ended the first quarter up by a field goal, 3-0. The Greyhounds added a touchdown and extra point to that score with a minute left in the second quarter and took a 10-0 lead over the Bearcats.

But with just mere seconds left in the first half, quarterback Thomas Bernal connected with wide receiver Brett Wise in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown strike. With the extra point by Ryan Bedell good, the Bearcats trailed the Greyhounds, 10-7 to end the half.

That Bearcats came back in the third quarter, and five minutes and five first downs later, the Bearcats survived a near fumble and two penalties that cost them 10 yards. A penalty against the Greyhounds gave Paso Robles a first down, then Bernal connected with Josh Weferling on 10-yard pass for the Bearcats’ second touchdown. With the extra point, the Bearcats took the lead, 14-10.

The Greyhounds answered back, as Andrew Hernandez returned the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown just seconds later. With the extra point, the Greyhounds retook the lead, 17-14.

That lead was short lived yet again, as the Bearcats Garried Mitchell returned the ball and set up a first down on the 49-yard line. Three first downs and the Bearcats were at first and goal. Bernal handed off to Andy Bridge for a one-yard touchdown run, and with it the Bearcats jumped out in front, 21-17.

But the Bearcats wouldn’t hold the Greyhounds for long. Two minutes in to the fourth quarter, the Greyhounds ran the ball in for a touchdown and with the extra point moved back into the lead, 24-21.

The Bearcats fumbled on the kickoff return, and the Greyhounds took over on first and ten on the 27-yard line. The Greyhounds were unable to make anything of it, and the Bearcats retook possession of the ball on downs on the 41-yard line.

The Bearcats decided to go for it on fourth and 15, but an incomplete pass gave the ball back to the Greyhounds for a first and 10 on the 47-yard line.

Unable to move the ball forward, the Greyhounds were forced to kick to the Bearcats with two and a half minutes left in the game.

The Bearcats took over on first and 10 on the 15-yard line, attempted to drive down field but were stopped short. Eventually the Greyhounds took over on downs. With just a minute left to play, Greyhound quarterback Steven Manier took a knee and ran out the clock for the win.

“My hat’s off to [Atascadero]; they came out and did what they needed to do, and controlled the line of scrimmage,” Schimke said. “Our guys played hard and the best team won tonight.”

The Bearcats rushed for 124 yards and passed for 163 yards. Bernal carried 16 times for 66 yards and completed 12 of 23 attempts and two touchdowns.

Weferling carried 13 times for 73 yards and Wise had three catches for 35 yards.

With the loss, Paso Robles finished as the co-champions in the PAC 7 but are the league’s No. 2 playoff seed. The Greyhounds (8-2 overall, 4-1 in the PAC 7) are the league’s No. 1 playoff seed and the San Luis Obispo Tigers are the No. 3 seed from the PAC 7 thanks to a win over rival Arroyo Grande Friday.

The Bearcats (8-2 overall, 4-1 in the PAC 7) will host Ventura in the first round of CIF competition on Friday. The game is at 7:30 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.



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