Greyhounds fall to Morro Bay in CIF Quarterfinals
Greyhounds are poised to be a competitive team again next season
– The Atascadero High School Greyhounds fell to the Morro Bay Pirates in the Quarterfinals of the CIF Division V Playoffs by a score of 42-14.
In similar fashion to their regular season game just three weeks ago, the Greyhounds once again couldn’t overcome the offensive strength of Morro Bay.
The Pirates drove down the field with ease as quarterback Sands Dougherty carved through the Atascadero defense.
Dougherty finished with six total touchdowns, four going to his receiver Ryder Busch. The left-handed quarterback also added a touchdown rush, capping off an impressive game in which the Pirate offense fired on all cylinders.
Morro Bay punted one time during the entire contest.
The Greyhounds on the other hand, struggled to get offense going.
Atascadero attempted to lean on its rushing attack that has brought them success throughout the regular season. However, against a stellar Morro Bay defensive line, the Greyhounds failed to find consistent production.
Without senior runningback Austin Smith, who suffered an injury during the regular season game between the two teams that would hold him out for the rest of the year, Atascadero would look to runningbacks Joseph Hyde and Bishop Resco.
Hyde and Resco provided most of the offense for the ‘Hounds, along with runs from quarterback Michael Trejo. Resco had a breakout game, scoring a touchdown early in the second quarter, and later ripping off a 40-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Though Resco’s runs were a bright spot for the team, they were otherwise stuffed by the Pirate defense.
Morro Bay’s defensive line did a great job getting in the backfield on early downs, forcing many third and longs for an Atascadero offense that wasn’t able to convert from distance.
With the stifling defense and continued pressure piled on from the Pirate offense, the Greyhounds fell to Morro Bay and their football season was over.
Though the loss was disappointing, head coach Dan Loney and Atascadero had a season to be proud of.
The Greyhounds finished the year with a 6-6 record in Loney’s first year as head coach, and came close to winning the Sunset League, finishing in second to San Luis Obispo High School.
The team fought through injuries and won a playoff game, giving the returning players something to build on for next season.
Though they will surely miss graduating players such as Smith, Hyde, Josiah Gaona, Ethan Blais, Armand Masatagni, and Cameron Pickard, the performances from the young players throughout the year have shown that they are ready to step up for next season.
Trejo is only a sophomore, and Resco showed in this playoff game that he has what it takes to take the reins of the backfield in his senior season.
There is rebuilding to do, but the Greyhounds are poised to be a competitive team again next season.
– Lano Somotun
