SLO County high school football preview: Here’s a sneak peek at the season ahead

The San Luis Obispo County high school football season has arrived with the first non-league matchups taking place Friday.

In preparation of the season, coaches from local teams weighed in on the outlook as SLO County teams adjust to a new setup of three CIF-Central Section leagues. Last year, SLO County teams played in one of two leagues (Mountain and Ocean leagues).

This season, SLO County schools are represented in the following leagues: Mountain League (Paso Robles, Mission Prep and Arroyo Grande), Sunset League (San Luis Obispo and Atascadero) and Ocean League (Morro Bay, Templeton and Nipomo) after the Central Coast Athletic Association agreed on realignment.

Those three leagues also are comprised of Santa Barbara County schools, including familiar teams such as Lompoc, St. Joseph, Santa Ynez, Pioneer Valley and Righetti.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come and key players to watch this year.

Arroyo Grande

2023 record: 9-2 overall, 7-0 Mountain League (first place)

The Eagles graduated more than 30 seniors from last season’s team, according to head coach Mike Hartman.

The program established itself as the top team in SLO County after going undefeated in the Mountain League, but due to the CIF playoff structure, the Eagles went on the road to Central High School in Fresno and fell in the first round.

“There’s always going to be year-to-year adjustments in high school football because we can’t go recruit,” Hartman said. “You make the dish with the ingredients you have.”

However, what stays true for the Eagles is their physicality and work in the weight room.

“Everyone lifts weights — but to really change your body and to change the way you go about your business because you’re physically strong enough to do things to keep you in games,” Hartman said.

Even though the team lost six of their seven top all-purpose-yard gainers coming into the season, the Eagles have players that can step up in increased roles. They also return their top offensive threat, wide receiver Caleb Clark, who’s going into his junior season.

Clark accumulated 670 receiving yards, the top mark on the team.

Players to watch: Caleb Clark (WR), Sam Wulff (QB), Rocco Koory (RB/LB), Zack Rayman (RB/LB)

First game: Friday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. at home versus Golden West

Atascadero

2023 record: 10-1 overall, 6-0 Ocean League (first place)

Coach Dan Loney, a former Atascadero High star who previously served as head coach at Templeton High and as an assistant at Paso Robles and Atascadero, takes over the Greyhounds’ reins from longtime head coach Vic Cooper.

Cooper stepped down at the end of last season after serving in the lead role since 2004 after starting his coaching career at Atascadero as an assistant in the 1980s. Cooper will be taking the year off from any coaching role with the team.

Cooper led the Greyhounds to a 10-1 record (6-0 Ocean League) last season with a star-studded squad, including SLO Tribune Player of the Year Kane Cooks, a strong core of receivers in Mason Degnan, Tyler Bukamier and Jarom Damery, and a fearsome line.

“Our goals are to get better every week, to take one thing we are not good at and get better at that, to be constant learners and to support each other,” Loney said.

Loney said fans hopefully will discover “a well-coached, disciplined, physical team that plays from whistle to whistle to the end of the game.”

Linebacker Cole Loney led the Greyhounds with 100 total tackles in their undefeated league run in 2023.

Players to watch: Cole Loney (TE/LB), Josiah Gaona (WR/QB), Austin Smith (RB/LB), Ethan Blais (WR/DB), Joseph Hyde (RB/DB), Josh Lopez (OL/DL) and Anthony Owens (OL/DL.).

First game: Friday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m. at home vs. North High of Bakersfield

Mission Prep

2023 record: 8-4 overall, 5-2 Mountain League (third place)

According to head coach David Schuster, last year’s team “truly overachieved.”

“If you look at some of the stuff we accomplished, we really had no business even being in the semifinals game,” Schuster said.

The team lost multiple key seniors that helped keep the team afloat last year, including Drew Harrigan, Connor Lopez, Luke Terry and Gabe Rodriquez. However, Schuster believes this year’s Royals team is equipped with more depth and strength across the board.

“We’re going to be able to get production from more places and be a more complete team,” Schuster said.

The Royals struggled mightily on offense in 2023. They had a 38% completion rate on passes and only had four receiving touchdowns on the season.

Incoming junior Thomas Glenn took over at quarterback after week one, but with a full offseason behind him, Schuster says he looks “extremely special.”

“We’re going to be far more productive than we were last year,” Schuster said.

On the defensive end, Champ Morrisey brings consistency at the linebacker position along with defensive back Ethan Orozco.

Key players: Thomas Glenn (QB), Miles Thompson (RB), Carter Mierau (RB/DB), Ronnie Kardashian (RB), Maverick Bright (TE), Armen Clayton (OL), Sean Rivas (OL), Gabe Ahumada (OL/DL), Champ Morrisey (LB), Ethan Orozco (DB)

First game: Friday, Aug. 23, 3 p.m. on the road vs. Santa Fe Christian

Morro Bay

2023 record: 7-6 overall, 2-4 Ocean (sixth place)

Coach Robert Dougherty said the team’s goal is to “win league league and see where the playoffs take us.”

“We ultimately want to reach our full potential as a team and come together as a family over the course of the year,” Dougherty said. “The season is long, and there are always unforeseen challenges.”

Dougherty said the vision is to “want our players to love one another and have each other’s backs as we meet any adversity we face.”

Senior Andrew Llamas recorded 69 tackles in his junior campaign last year, serving as a defensive tackle. James Nickel logged 55 tackles.

Players to watch: Rowan McCain (OL/DL), Andrew Llamas (OL/DL), Dustin Davis (OL/DL), Damien Howell (OL/DL), Colton Janovec (WR/LB), Logan Meehan (WR/DL), James Nickel (WR/DB), John Myers (WR/DB), Ryder Busch (WR/DB), Sands Dougherty (QB/DB), Luca Macari (RB/DL), Efrain Hernandez(WR/DB), Colton Rosenlieb (RB/LB), Radden Batalla (OL/DL), Isaac Schooley (RB/LB).

First game: Friday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. on the road vs. Foothill

Nipomo

2023 record: 4-7 overall, 2-5 Mountain League (fifth place)

After going winless in 2022, Nipomo had a bounce-back year under head coach Stephen Field. In a difficult Mountain League, the Titans picked up two wins and showed fight against the top teams in the county.

Heading into 2024, the Titans will look to continue their improvement.

“If you look at our team from the first half to second half of last year, I think we were a different team,” Field said.

Leading the team under center is sophomore quarterback Blayne Lowry. As a freshman, Lowry made dynamic plays in the passing game and on the ground.

“Any defensive coordinator will tell you a mobile quarterback, it’s horrible to try to defend for that because there’s variables you can’t control,” Field said.

As coach, Field has put an emphasis on preparation week to week.

“One thing we’ve learned is what preparation does for you and how to practice correctly,” Field said.

Players to watch: Blayne Lowry (QB), Mason Bird (OL/DL), Juan Zarate (S), Alfredo Figeroa (LB)

First game: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m. on the road vs. Lompoc

Paso Robles

2023 record: 2-8 record, 2-5 Mountain League (sixth place)

The Bearcats will look to improve upon a two-win campaign last year with the “biggest goal to develop our young and talented team during our tough schedule in the preseason,” said Coach Matt Carroll.

Paso Robles starts the season against a string of Central Valley teams in Kingsburg, Garces Memorial and Madera.

In a highlight matchup early in the season, on Sept. 20 the Bearcats head down Highway 101 to take on Atascadero in a nonleague rivalry contest.

Carroll said Paso Robles fans can expect “a tough defense and a heavy run game on offense.”

When they do throw, receiver Tre Clark will be a likely target. Clark had 294 yards receiving and three touchdowns as a sophomore last year.

Players to watch: Hayden Roady (DL), Tre Clark (WR) and Angel Guerra (OL/center).

First game: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m. on the road vs. Kingsburg

San Luis Obispo

2023 record: 7-4 overall, 5-1 Ocean League (second place)

For the past three seasons, the Tigers have finished in second place in the Ocean League.

“We’d like to get ourselves over the threshold we’ve been at the last two years,” Tigers Coach Pat Johnston said.

The past two seasons, the Tigers fell to Atascadero late in games and were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. However, the Tigers return over 30 seniors and will look to use their experience from the past two years to take the next step as a team.

“It’s going to take everybody recognizing that they’ve been in big games before and knowing what went well and what didn’t,” Johnston said.

Quarterback Jace Gomes is going into his senior season after starting for three years. He completed 53 passes for 889 yards. Gomes also can run the ball. He was second on the team in carries with 135 rushing attempts for 943 yards. He added 19 total touchdowns on the season.

This season has major significance for the program. The team is celebrating 100 years of Tigers football in its home game against longtime rival Arroyo Grande on Sept. 6.

Key players: Jace Gomes (QB), Cody Johnson (DB), Britton Rethmeier (SS/WR), Hayden Hall (LB), Finnigan Hickey (WR), Dane Adler (WR/LB)

First game: Friday, Aug. 23, at home vs. Mount Whitney at 7 p.m.

Templeton

2023 record: 5-6 overall, 2-4 Ocean (fifth place)

The Eagles will look to learn on the fly with a team that has several players without much varsity experience.

Templeton will try to improve upon a 5-6 overall record last year and a fifth-place finish in the Ocean League, while replacing a number of graduated senior standouts including Johnny Peschong, Aiden Wall, Lane Miller, Kolton Sizemore, Daxton Calagna and Wyatt Ramey.

“We are a very inexperienced team,” said Templeton Coach Don Crow. “Our goals are the same as every year ... to play well enough so we can get a chance to play for a league championship and then play multiple games in November.”

The Eagles will look to get a large group of new players up to speed quickly.

“Our fans can expect a team that plays extremely hard with a lot of passion.,” Crow said. “We replaced 15 starters, so we have a lot of new faces that our fans haven’t seen play that will lead us through the season.”

Jaron Sampson had 57 tackles as a junior and enters his senior season this year.

Players to watch: Jaron Sampson (Safety/TE), Braden Mott (LB/FB), Mark Mitchell (LB/FB), Drake Sandoval (OL/DL), Tyler Cunningham (LB/RB).

First game: Friday, Aug. 23, at 7:30 p.m. on the road vs. Hoover of Fresno