Greyhounds’ comeback secures win against Pioneer Valley
– The Atascadero High School Greyhounds rallied late in the game to beat the Pioneer Valley Panthers 28-21.
Following the victory over Santa Ynez last week, Atascadero coach Dan Loney looked forward to the next game, emphasizing the team’s need to figure out what they need to beat the Panthers. “We’re gonna enjoy this [win] tonight, and we’re gonna watch some film tomorrow and see where we match up best with them [Pioneer Valley.]”
It took the Greyhounds some time, but they found their answer to what the Panthers were throwing at them, and it came from Austin Smith.
With his running mate Joseph Hyde out from injury, Smith was the key piece in Atascadero’s victory, scoring all four Greyhound touchdowns and providing a spark for the team in the fourth quarter when they struggled to find their footing throughout much of the game.
Early in the match, the Greyhounds looked like a completely different team. Though Smith found a first quarter touchdown, a Panthers offense that has averaged under 10 points per game this season was moving the sticks consistently.
Panther quarterback Logan McJohn scored on a 17-yard scramble, and senior Daniel Hernandez scored on a rush from one yard out to make it 14-7. Though Pioneer Valley hadn’t completed a pass, they drove down the field with relative ease.
Atascadero on the other hand, struggled to find its rhythm, getting stuffed in the backfield on numerous plays before they could get their offense started.
Things looked to be the same in the third quarter, as McJohn scrambled and Hernandez rushes earned first downs, but the Greyhounds defense stepped up to stop them.
Then, late in the quarter, Atascadero went back to their bread and butter: the run game. Smith found a hole and broke off a 22-yard run, opening the gates for the Greyhounds. They continued feeding him the ball, letting the senior put the team on his back and score a touchdown to tie the game up at 14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
It was all Atascadero from there on out, as the Greyhound defense got another stop, and Damon Mitchell ripped off a crucial punt return all the way inside the Panther 30. Smith scored another rushing touchdown to give the Greyhounds their first lead, then scored his fourth on the following drive to put them up 28-14.
Pioneer Valley put together a responding drive, making some short passes to get into Greyhound territory. McJohn found his receiver for a 10-yard touchdown, cutting the Atascadero lead back down to seven with 52 seconds remaining.
The ensuing onside kick was unusual, as a fan in the home stands blew a whistle that confused the Pioneer Valley special teamers. The kicker heard the whistle and sent the onside kick, but the rest of the team didn’t go and the Greyhounds recovered.
With Smith getting a first down, Atascadero held on to win the game.
Smith scored four total touchdowns during the contest, all while playing on the defensive side as well. The senior rarely came off the field in an incredible performance to help his team win.
With the victory, Atascadero moves to 4-3 on the season and 2-0 in the Sunset League. They still share the number one placement in the league with San Luis Obispo High School, but are building a lead over the rest of the teams in the conference.
Up next, the Greyhounds will return home to face the Righetti Warriors on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
-Report and photo by Lano Somotun
