Friday night football returns as Paso Robles, Templeton enter new league
By Mike Chaldu · Thu Aug 20 2026
Bearcats and Eagles prepare for new Sunset League matchups, renewed rivalries and a challenging 2026 season
NORTH COUNTY — Classes have now started for the school districts in northern San Luis Obispo County, among them the local high school campuses.
And along with that comes the return of gridiron action for the football squads. The Paso Robles Bearcats, and Templeton Eagles will begin their seasons this week and will bump into each other this year, as they are now league rivals, competing in the Sunset League, along with Atascadero, Lompoc, and Nipomo.
Here's a look at each of the teams:
PASO ROBLES HIGH SCHOOL
The Bearcats will come out for another season of action at War Memorial Stadium at Flamson Junior High. Led by head coach Matt Carroll, the Bearcats are coming off a 4-7 record in 2025, ending with a loss to Kennedy High of Delano in the first round of the CIF playoffs. However, the team can point to a strong finish to the regular season as they posted wins over Mission Prep and Lompoc (now a Sunset League foe) in the last two games. The Bearcats can also brag about their big win over Atascadero in 2025, and hope to carry that over to this year's rivalry game.
PRHS will begin the season at War Memorial Stadium on Friday, Aug. 21, when Bishop Diego High of Santa Barbara comes up for a 7 p.m. game. PRHS is looking forward to big crowds on Friday, Sept. 25, for its Homecoming game against Cabrillo; and on Friday, Oct. 16, when it travels to Atascadero for the teams' big rivalry game. A week after, the Bearcats face Templeton (October 23) and then end the regular season with a game at Righetti on Friday, October 30.
Head coach Matt Carroll said the team will be led by senior team captains Matt Amman (free safety and running back) and Emmett Dobroth (wide receiver). On defense, Amman tied for the team lead with 44 tackes in 2025, along with linebacker Leevi Stanko, who returns this year as a junior. Senior Diego Rodriguez will anchor the offensive line, while sophomore Aiden Messina is expected to make an impact at running back.
"As the head coach, I feel great about our team!" Carroll said. "We are more disciplined than ever, and we are showing high levels of character, attitude, and toughness."
BEARCATS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
August 21*
Opponent: Bishop Diego
JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 6 p.m.
August 28
Opponent: Arroyo Grande
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
September 4*
Opponent: St. Joseph
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
September 11
Opponent: Highland
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
September 18
BYE WEEK
September 25*
Opponent: Cabrillo (Homecoming)
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
October 2*
Opponent: Lompoc
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
October 9
Opponent: Nipomo
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
October 16
Opponent: Atascadero (Rivalry Game)
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
October 23*
Opponent: Templeton
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
October 30
Opponent: Righetti
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
November 6
CIF Central Section Playoffs Begin
*Home games
TEMPLETON HIGH SCHOOL
Templeton is looking forward to Friday nights and more football action as the Eagles, led by head coach Don Crow, return to the field, and, oh, what a ride they had last season.
Templeton steamrolled their opponents in 2025 on their way to a 10-0 regular season record and the Ocean League championship. The Eagles racked up a total of 418 points during that run (41.8 points per game if you do the math) and earned the top seed in the CIF Central Section's Division IV. From there, they made it to the championship game before falling to Immanuel High of Reedley.
This season, the Eagles move to a new league, the Sunset, along with fellow north SLO County schools Atasadero and Paso Robles. Templeton kicks off the season with a road game at Caruthers High on Friday, Aug. 21, and then plays its home opener on Friday, Aug. 28, against Santa Maria. The Eagles will celebrate Homecoming on Friday, Sept. 25, with a game against Pioneer Valley, then play Atascadero at home on Friday, Oct. 9, and Paso Robles on the road on Friday, Oct. 23.
Crow has a good batch of senior returning players, all coming off all-league seasons, for 2026. Quarterback Colter Tannehill has already committed to Fresno State to play his college ball, and Crow calls him one of the top quarterbacks in the area. Additionally, senior Colby Sims returns at wide receiver and safety and will be a force on both offense and defense. Senior Jose Diaz returns to anchor the Eagles offensive line, while Jesse Grinnell and Nick Capaci are standouts on defense and will also help on the offensive side of the ball, according to Crow.
The head coach, though, realizes the 2026 Eagles will have a challenge after being moved from the Ocean to Sunset Leagu and being in a higher playoff division.
"Playing in the Sunset league will be a challenge for us," Crow said. "We graduated a large senior class that left a strong legacy for future teams to uphold. Our league is definitely tougher than in the past and we will have to play at a high level every Friday night to be competitive. We have a strong group of returning players and they are looking forward to the season."
EAGLES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
August 21
Opponent: Caruthers
JV 5 p.m. | Varsity 7:30 p.m.
August 28*
Opponent: Santa Maria
JV 5 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.
September 4*
Opponent: Coalinga
JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.
September 11 (Rivalry Game)
Opponent: Morro Bay
JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
September 18
BYE WEEK
September 25* (Homecoming)
Opponent: Pioneer Valley
JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.
October 2
Opponent: Nipomo
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
October 9*
Opponent: Atascadero
JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.
October 16*
Opponent: San Luis Obispo
JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.
October 23
Opponent: Paso Robles
JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
October 30
Opponent: Lompoc
JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.
November 6
CIF Central Section Playoffs Begin
*Home games
Feature Image: Members of the Paso Robles football team are shown at a team-building overnight event at Highlands Church. The Bearcats will start their 2026 season at War Memorial Stadium this Friday, Aug. 21, against Bishop Diego High of Santa Barbara. Photo courtesy of Paso Robles Bearcat Football