Templeton hits peak efficiency in win over Morro Bay

By Mike Chaldu · Thu Sep 17 2026

Paso Robles gains first win, while Atascadero suffers first loss

TEMPLETON — Two weeks ago, Templeton High quarterback Colter Tannehill had five touchdown passes in a home win against Coalinga. Last Friday, Sept. 11, the Eagles traveled to Morro Bay, and Tannehill matched that five-TD performance — in the first quarter.

The THS signal-caller wasn't the only one on his team to excel in the game, as the Eagles had their most dominating win yet this season, beating the Pirates 69-6 in the annual contest they call Clash of the Coast.

The win kept Templeton undefeated at 4-0, while Morro Bay fell to 0-4.

The Eagles wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Tannehill hit receiver Nick Capaci with a 33-yard TD pass just one minute into the game, giving THS a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point. Tannehill would again connect with Capaci on scoring passes of 4 and then 40 yards on the next two drives.

Tannehill then hit Leo Rivera (who also had two interceptions on defense) with a 16-yard TD. Then, after Ryder Garcia ran an interception back to the Morro Bay 15, the quarterback threw a 7-yard TD to give the Eagles a 34-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Tannehill would throw a sixth scoring pass, this one to Colby Sims, for 2 yards, and run one in for another touchdown. Running back Jesse Grinnell, who had a game-high 93 yards rushing, ran for two scores, including a 28-yarder with a minute left in the half to give Templeton an eye-popping 62-0 halftime lead.

With a running clock in the second half, Eagles coach Don Crow put in his reserves, and after Gavin Chavez ran the second-half kickoff 75 yards down to the Pirates' 7-yard line, and backup quarterback Anthoni Molina ran it in from there for the final THS points of the night.

Morro Bay avoided the shutout when Aiden Duffy had a 22-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

"We didn't play a perfect game, but we definitely made a lot of good plays today," Crow said after the game. "Our receivers were really good today, and of course Colt really had a night connecting with them. I'm looking forward to resting up for our bye week and facing Pioneer Valley."

The Eagles will have their bye week and won't play this Friday, Sept. 18, but will return Sept. 25 to play Pioneer Valley in THS's Homecoming game.

Bearcats get first win of the season

The Paso Robles High football team traveled to Bakersfield to play Highland High on Sept. 11, and made it worthwhile by beating the host Scots 35-21, for the Bearcats' first win of the season.

PRHS used a strong rushing attack, gaining 304 yards as a team. Aiden Messina had 203 of those yards to lead the team, while quarterback Vincent Berlingeri threw for two TDs and rushed for another.

Paso raised its record to 1-3, while Highland fell to 2-2.

Ashton Wirkus started the scoring for the Bearcats, taking it in from 1-yard out and then Berlingeri threw a 28-yard TD pass to Emmett Dobroth, as PRHS took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. Although, Highland would stay in striking distance throughout the game, the Bearcats would not be caught.

"I could not be happier with our team’s response after going 0-3 to start," Bearcats head coach Matt Carroll said. "They displayed toughness and perseverance. We need to clean up penalties moving forward, but the defense had some great stops."

Emerson Stemper (23-yard run) and Xander Hermanson (2-yard reception) scored touchdowns in the second half for PRHS, and on defense Brandon Hulgan caused and recovered a fumble, and the unit made stops on two late Highland drives to keep the Scots at bay.

The Bearcats will have a bye this week, and return to War Memorial Stadium on Sept. 25 for their Homecoming game against Cabrillo.

Greyhounds suffer first loss of the season

After winning its first three games, the Atascadero High football team came upon a formidable San Luis Obispo squad, and the Tigers proved to be too much, beating the Greyhounds 38-14.

The result left both teams with a 3-1 record.

"It was a physical game on both sides," Atascadero head coach Dan Loney said. "The ball seemed to bounce their way Friday night, but I thought we played extremely hard."

Jacob Perry had 5 catches for 109 yards and one touchdown, while Ernesto Grijalva had nine carries for 100 yards and scored the other Greyhound TD. 

The Tigers' offense, however, proved to be too much for AHS, as SLO totaled 428 yards of offense, including 266 on the ground. The Tigers built up leads of 21-7 at halftime and 31-7 at the end of three quarters on their way to victory.

The Greyhounds, like their area rivals in Templeton and Paso Robles, are having a bye this week, and will return home on Sept. 25 to play Santa Ynez.

Colby Sims (2) holds onto the "Clash of the Coast" trophy which goes to the winner of the annual Templeton-Morro Bay game. The Eagles kept possession of the trophy on Sept. 11 with a 69-6 win. Photo by Mike Chaldu/PRP