Eagles, Bearcats, Greyhounds gear up for CIF football playoffs

By Camille DeVaul · Fri Nov 07 2025

Templeton finishes as undefeated Ocean League champions after win over Cabrillo

NORTH COUNTY — The Templeton Eagles capped off an incredible regular season with a hard-fought 29–23 victory over the Cabrillo Conquistadores on Thursday, finishing the season with a perfect 10-0 record. The win secured more than just bragging rights — the Eagles are now the undefeated Ocean League champions and have officially locked in the No. 1 seed in Division IV of the CIF Central Section.

While Templeton entered the matchup as the favorite, ranked 122nd in California by MaxPreps compared to Cabrillo’s 405th, the Conquistadores didn’t make it easy. Cabrillo came within six points of snapping the Eagles’ streak before Templeton sealed the win late to remain undefeated.

Senior running back Tyler Cunningham once again powered the offense, rushing for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. It marked his fourth consecutive game with at least 146 rushing yards, continuing a dominant stretch on the ground. Quarterback Colby Sims provided balance through the air, hauling in 101 receiving yards to keep the Eagles’ attack dynamic.

On defense, Templeton’s front line made their presence known, notching three sacks, one each from Nick Capaci, Weston Patch, and Wyatt Botts, to help stifle Cabrillo’s momentum.

With their regular season now complete, the Eagles will enjoy a bye week in the first round before beginning their CIF playoff run at home on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. Templeton will face either Coalinga or Monache, depending on the outcome of this week’s matchup between those two teams.

For the first time since 2022, the Paso Robles Bearcats football team is heading back to the postseason. They punched their ticket to the 2025 CIF Central Section Division III playoffs after closing out the regular season with back-to-back victories.

Paso Robles (4-6) will travel to the Central Valley this week to face Kennedy High School (7-3) in Delano for a first-round playoff matchup on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.

The Bearcats earned their playoff berth with a strong finish, including a 27–13 Senior Night win over Mission Prep on Oct. 24, followed by a 34–33 nail-biter victory against Lompoc on Oct. 31.

Junior quarterback Blayne Lowry led the way in the Mission Prep win, accounting for three touchdowns, while senior running back Yannie Gelos anchored the ground game with 119 rushing yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Emmett Dobroth topped the receiving corps with 66 yards through the air.

The Atascadero Greyhounds will also be heading into CIF football postseason this Friday, starting with a first-round road matchup against the Nipomo Titans, at 7 p.m.

The Greyhounds (5-5) are coming off a tough 28–14 loss to San Luis Obispo, which snapped their three-game winning streak. But even in defeat, Atascadero’s trademark ground game remained strong thanks to standout senior running back Damon Mitchell, who powered through for 215 yards and a touchdown, averaging an impressive 12.6 yards per carry.

Throughout the season, Atascadero has relied on its physical rushing attack, averaging 251 yards per game on the ground. Mitchell has led the charge behind a disciplined offensive line that has opened lanes for explosive plays week after week.

This Friday, the Greyhounds will look to get back on track against a 6-4 Nipomo team that’s coming off a 49–34 win over Morro Bay. The Titans feature a balanced offense led by quarterback Griffin Groshart, who threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns in their most recent outing, while the team piled up 348 rushing yards. Nipomo’s defense also proved opportunistic, intercepting four passes in that game.

The matchup is expected to be a ground-heavy showdown between two teams that pride themselves on power football. While Nipomo averages 227.3 rushing yards per game, Atascadero’s hard-nosed run game and playoff-tested mentality could be key in swinging momentum their way.