The Bearcats remain undefeated, 4-0, as they won easily against the visiting Ridgeview Wolf Pack on Friday night, 48-13.

Although the Bearcats scored 35 more points than the Wolf Pack, Paso Robles varsity coach Rich Schimke felt defense played a stronger role in the game.

“I think the offense just kind of sputtered,” he said.

Even a slight drizzle did little to slow the Bearcats momentum on the field as senior running back Josh Weferling scored both touchdowns in the first quarter and put his team up 13-0 over the Wolf Pack.

Whether it was the rain or the inexperience of a young team, the Wolf Pack couldn’t maintain possession.

“[Ridgeview] had a hard time hanging onto the ball, and we took advantage of it,” Schimke said.

Weferling added two more touchdowns before the night was over. Weferling rushed 16 times for a team-high 131 yards, scoring all four touchdowns on the ground. He also caught one pass for eight yards.

Weferling credited the offensive line for the points he put on the board.

“It feels good,” he said. “I’m so proud of the line; they did a great job and they opened up huge holes.”

Weferling’s third touchdown came with just over six minutes left in the second quarter, and gave his team a 20-point lead. The lead was cut slightly as the Wolf Pack added a touchdown to end the first half, 20-7.

At half time, PRHS honored three alumni who were inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Sarah Larson, class of 1996, Alfred “Bud” Journey, class of 1960, and Larry Moore, class of 1950, were honored during a special ceremony at the half.

Junior running back Andy Bridge scored the Bearcats fourth touchdown of the night toward the end of the third quarter.

A hand off from junior quarterback Austin Flynn, who started in place of the injured Brandon Ladley, let Bridge barrel his way through the middle. With the extra point, the Bearcats jumped to a 27-7 lead.

Bridge rushed for 77 yards and scored two touchdowns in the game. Flynn went 8-for-16 for 73 yards.

Like Weferling, Bridge gave credit to his line.

“The line was just making a lot of good blocks and there was no one there to get me,” Bridge said.

The Wolf Pack answered back on their next possession, and threw the ball in to the end zone for their second, and final, touchdown of the night. The Bearcats Robbie Boggs blocked the extra point, as the Wolf Pack trailed the Bearcats, 27-13 to end the third quarter.

The Bearcats capped off the night with three more touchdowns. The first came off a fumble by the Wolf Pack in the end zone, which allowed defensive end Trevor Marsano to pounce on the ball for the score. The extra point put the game at 34-13 with over nine minutes left to play.

Bridge barreled through the Wolf Pack defense for his second touchdown of the night, a 17-yard run. With the extra point kick from Ryan Bedell good, the Bearcats were up 28 points over the Wolf Pack.

“[Ridgeview] actually played something a little bit different than we thought we were going to face,” Schimke said. “But we found a little wrinkle inside and kept hammering it. Then Andy came in the second half and exploited the same spot and he was able to be successful there too.”

Later in the fourth, on a punt from the Bearcats, the Wolf Pack fumbled again and the Bearcats recovered again. Weferling ran the ball in for his fourth touchdown on that possession, capping the scoring at 48-13.

The Wolf Pack fumbled 12 times in the game, five of those were recovered by the Bearcats. The Wolf Pack also suffered nine sacks by the Bearcats defense.

“We did what we came to do,” Marsano said of his team’s victory. “It was a team effort.”

The Bearcats travel to West Bakersfield this Friday, Sept. 28. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. and JV starts at 4:30 p.m. After a bye week, the Templeton Eagles are on the road to start Los Padres League play against Santa Ynez.



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