Entering the second round of CIF playoffs for the first time since 2002, the Bearcats came into the game against the Hart Indians at War Memorial Stadium with definite fervor, hoping to make it to round three.

But as Hart took a 21-0 lead at the half, some of the Bearcats fervor turned to understandable frustration. The Bearcats managed one touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Indians added two more and went on to claim the victory, 35-7.

With the win, Hart, the champions of the Foothill League, remained undefeated at 11-0-1.

“We had opportunities slip through our hands several times,” Paso Robles varsity coach Rich Schimke said. “We had opportunities tonight that were there, and we didn’t execute when we needed to.”

Two of those missed opportunities came in the first half as the Bearcats recovered a fumble and then followed that up with an interception. The Bearcats failed to capitalize on either turnover.

With the Indians up by two touchdowns, the Bearcats had the chance to cut that lead in half following a fumble recovery by defensive end Trevor Marsano. The Bearcats took over on the 15-yard line. A loss of yards on two penalties moved the ball back 10 yards, and on a fourth and 3 at the 23, the Bearcats punted.

Hart took over, but on the second play the Bearcats’ Garried Mitchell intercepted the ball. The Bearcats took over on the 41-yard line, and unable to convert on a fourth down, allowed the Indians to take over.

The Indians went on to score their third touchdown of the game with 48 seconds left in the first half, and took a 21-0 lead.

The Bearcats received to start the second half and completed three first downs to set themselves up at first and goal. An incomplete pass on fourth down gave the ball back to the Indians yet again.

Schimke said the calls made on fourth down conversion attempts were the right ones to make regardless of the outcome.

“If I had it to do over again we would do exactly the same thing we did,” he said.

The Bearcats sole touchdown came at the start of the fourth quarter, when sophomore quarterback Thomas Bernal connected with senior Brett Wise for a 17-yard touchdown pass in the end zone. With the extra point, the Bearcats trailed the Indians, 28-7.

“They really executed well and they didn’t have very many weaknesses,” Wise said of the Indians.

Hart added one more touchdown to end the game 35-7.

The Bearcats registered 15 first downs, while the Indians had 23. The Bearcats rushed 33 times for 227 yards and passed for another 118. Hart rushed 41 times for 314 yards and passed for another 251 yards.

Bernal went 10-for-24 for 118 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Wise had five receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown.

On the ground, Nathan Nelson carried 14 times for 136 yards. Josh Weferling carried six times for 48 yards and Bernal carried 11 times for 37 yards.

“They’re a really solid team, and I’m glad we had the opportunity to play them,” Nelson said.

Despite the loss, Nelson was proud of his team’s performance in the game.

“Our defensive backs, that was really good effort, and they stayed with them and played coverage,” he said. “We worked on it all week [in practice] and we did all that we could, and it just didn’t pan out in the end — and you know, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. But you have to come out and give it your all, and that’s what we did.”

The loss was the end of a successful season in which the Bearcats ended the regular season 8-2 overall, 4-1 in the PAC 7, and ended as the league’s co-champions alongside Atascadero. Paso ended the season 9-3.

Schimke said this season was “a special season” made up of players that exemplified Bearcat pride.

“These guys did some special things, and it was because of the bond they formed with the coaches and each other,” he said. “It comes from their parents, their upbringing and we just rode [the season] from there — it was something special.”



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