High school football preview: Here’s how SLO County’s teams stack up

The 2023 San Luis Obispo County football season kicks off this week with teams from both the Ocean and Mountain League starting up play.

Here’s a look at key players and the outlook for each SLO County team in both leagues.

Arroyo Grande

2022-23 record: 5-7 overall, 3-4 Mountain League (fifth place)

While their record may not show it, the Eagles were one of the more competitive teams in the Mountain League last season. In two of their four league losses — against Lompoc and Mission Prep — Arroyo Grande lost by only one touchdown.

Now, with a large group of returners, the Eagles will look to make rise into the upper echelon of the Mountain League.

According to head coach Mike Hartman, turnovers were what prevented the team from taking the next step last year.

“We turned the ball over five times (against Mission Prep),” Hartman said. “You’re not going to beat anybody, let alone a good team like Mission was last year, turning the ball over five times.”

Hartman hopes with a more experienced group returning, the Eagles can improve upon last season’s turnover issues.

“They know what league play is,” Hartman said. “They know how to handle some adversity, and there’s no substitute for that kind of experience.”

Players to watch: Drake Missamore (QB), Junior Herlihy and Ben Walz (RB), Caleb Clark (WR), Brandon Butler (WR/DB), Jacob Angulo (secondary), Tanner Quaresma (LB), Jonathan Aguilar and Moses Diaz (DL)

First game: Home vs. Golden West (Visalia) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Atascadero

2022-23 record: 11-4 overall, 5-1 Ocean League (first place)

The Greyhounds are coming off one of the best seasons in school history.

Led by head coach Vic Cooper, the team finished first in the Ocean League and went on to win the Division 5 Central Section Championship, the Northern California 6A Regional Championship and the California State 6A Championship.

However, their journey to winning the state championship didn’t come easy.

The Greyhounds dropped their first three games of the season in non-league matchups. During their turnaround in Ocean League play, the team recorded multiple comeback wins after going down big in the first half against Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo.

“We will have to adjust to having a target on our back,” the coaching staff said via a press release. “There will be no sneaking up on teams this year.”

The Greyhounds will look to find a similar level of success with 17 returning lettermen. However, running back Trey Cooks, who ran for nearly 2,000 yards last season, graduated this past year.

His younger brother Kane Cooks will look to bolster the running game from the quarterback position.

Players to watch: Kane Cooks (QB), Mason Degnan (WR/DB), Jackson Cooper and Jaiden Ramirez (OL), Anthony Tejada (DL)

First game: Away vs. North (Bakersfield) on Friday, Aug. 25, at 7:30 p.m.

Mission Prep

2022-23 record: 8-4 overall, 6-1 Mountain League (second place)

When asked what the big themes of the offseason were, Mission Prep head coach David Schuster said the program is focusing on a “recommitment back to our core values,” along with an overall “cultural reset.”

“We lost a lot of very special seniors and some great senior leadership,” Schuster said.

Some of the key seniors who have departed include Colby White, Cole Tanner, Jamar Howard, Tyler Garrett, Aidan Dahlen, Mario and David Luera, and RJ Esmon. Many are going on to play football in college.

“I think if this team tries to individually be superstars, then we’re gonna have problems,” Schuster said. “We’ve got talent, but there’s gonna be a huge element of team.”

One major change will be that Mission Prep will now play its home games at Cal Poly’s Spanos Stadium.

The Royals’ young squad, led by senior running back Drew Harrigan, who had a team-best 110.3 yards per game and 18 touchdowns, will be tested early against Bakersfield Christian, Bishop Diego and Aptos.

“I’ve been really pleased with the growth of the team,” Schuster said. “Everyone wants to talk about (playing at Cal Poly) and some of the success that we’ve had, and it hasn’t really seemed to affect this group.”

Players to watch: Drew Harrigan (RB), Connor Lopez (TE/LB), Gabe Ahumada (OL/DL), Gabe Rodriguez (OL/DL), Luke Terry (WR/DB)

First game: Home vs. Bakersfield Christian on Friday at 7 p.m.

Morro Bay

Last season record: 5-7, 3-3 Ocean (fifth place)

The Pirates will have a new look this year following the graduation of two key players in recent years.

The challenge will be how to replace the production of dynamic quarterback Nicky Johnson, who’s playing at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, and linebacker and receiver Aiden Blackwood, who is now playing at Santa Barbara City College.

But head coach Robert Dougherty is optimistic.

“Things are on the come-up, and the kids are really living up to the work that it takes to maintain that,” Dougherty said.

Dougherty says his players will be tested in the preseason against teams “triple our size,” with hopes that it will get them ready to compete in the Ocean League.

“This team is very hardworking,” Dougherty said. “We bonded really well at summer camp, and they’re a very positive group.”

Players to watch: Nami Hoag (RB/LB), Caleb Calhoun (CB/WR), Brody Rust (OL), Nick Reid (T/DE), Jose Salazar (OL), Jaime Barajas (OL), Jackson McMahon (T/DE), Ian Lambright (QB)

First game: Home vs. Mt. Whitney (Visalia) on Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.

Nipomo

Last season record: 0-10, 0-7 Mountain (eighth place)

This is the first full offseason head coach Stephen Field has had with the Titans.

The former two-time All-American Cal Poly lineman was named head coach in April 2022 after the previous coach departed.

“I didn’t know my staff. I didn’t know my (players),” Field said.

The team didn’t win a single game due to the unfamiliarity had with one another. Now, the main focus of the offseason for the Titans has been setting a cultural foundation.

“You can’t play pickup football,” Field said. “There are expectations of teamwork and leadership within the program.”

Players to watch: Ian Ackerman (FB/LB), Joe Casteneda (OL/DL), Walter Boling (OL)

First game: Away vs. San Luis Obispo on Friday at 7 p.m.

Paso Robles

Last season record: 7-4, 5-2 Mountain (third place)

The Bearcats have had a “productive and busy” summer with a squad that is “short on experience, but long on dedication and work habits,” said Tim Alvord, interim head coach. “They have bonded well over the summer and are excited about the prospects for the upcoming season.”

Alvord said that team goals are to “avoid injury in preseason and to guarantee a spot in the playoffs as we gain experience in some new systems.”

The team will see new faces at the go-to offensive playmaking positions with the loss of Leo Kemp, who graduated last year after averaging 148 yards per game rushing.

Connor Bowman will be a key running back, with “two outstanding quarterback candidates in Hayden McKanna and James Cogan,” Alvord said.

Players to watch: Connor Bowman (RB), Hayden McKanna, James Cogan and Tristen Salgado (WR), Rudy Contreras and Kiler Tweten (LB), Ashton Murphy (DL)

First game: Home vs. Kingsburg, Friday 7:30 p.m.

San Luis Obispo

Last season record: 8-3, 5-1 Ocean (second place)

In the past two seasons, the Tigers have finished second in the Ocean League with strong records. However, in both years the Tigers exited the playoffs in the first round.

“We feel like had we just made that many less mistakes, that we would have been pressing forward in the playoff picture,” head coach Pat Johnston said.

With multiple key returners, such as quarterback Jace Gomes and running back Isaiah Hernandez, the Tigers will look to prepare themselves for a deep playoff run.

Johnston said that in 2022, the Tigers also dealt with the most injuries he’s seen from one team at San Luis Obispo High School.

“Last season was unlike any other in terms of feeling a little snake-bit,” Johnston said.

Coming into this season, they now “have a certain chip on their shoulder” due to how last season went and will look to make their mark in the Ocean League, the coach said.

Players to watch: Jace Gomes (QB), Isaiah Hernandez (RB), Chance Evans (LB), Dane Adler (WR), Roman Engelmeier (OL)

First game: Home vs. Nipomo on Friday at 7 p.m.

Templeton

Last season record: 8-5, 3-3 Ocean League, (third place)

The Eagles start their season on Aug. 26 with about as distant an away game a high school team can schedule, at Sugar-Salem High in eastern Idaho.

“We’re flying in a charter plane and will have banquet rooms set up for our meals,” said head coach Don Crow. “The parents really stepped up to help pull this together. It’s going to be a great experience, and we’re very excited playing against a team that won the last five state championships in Division 3A in Idaho, so they’re pretty good.”

Crow said the team scheduled a bye in the first week of the high school schedule due to the way the early practice schedule falls during the Mid-State Fair because “so many of our players show animals at the fair,” which will offer some extra preparation time.

Johnny Peschong, one of four Templeton all-league players, posted 18.5 sacks last year to lead the county and will be a two-way force as a guard and defensive lineman, Crow said.

“We have 17 returning players this year and 50 on the varsity roster,” Crow said. “Our goal is to take every week one game at a time. Our league is really even with SLO, Atascadero, Pioneer Valley, and Santa Maria has a really good team as well, and they could be a sleeper.”

Players to watch: Johnny Peschong (DL/OG), Kohen Sizemore (LB/TE), Aiden Wall (OL/DL), Kolton Sobrya (WR, DB), Anthony Chavez (QB)

First game: Away vs. Sugar-Salem on Aug. 26 at 1 p.m.