Eagles keep hot streak alive with Greyhounds win

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Oct 02 2025

Balanced scoring and timely turnovers lift Eagles to fourth consecutive win, 31-20

NORTH COUNTY — The Templeton Eagles kept their hot streak alive Friday night, defeating the Atascadero Greyhounds 31-20 in a non-league matchup that carried plenty of local rivalry weight. The win marked Templeton’s fourth straight and served as payback for last year’s 10-7 Greyhounds victory, reaffirming the Eagles’ growing dominance in recent matchups between the two teams.

Templeton wasted little time establishing control. Midway through the first quarter, the Eagles struck with a 28-yard touchdown pass, quickly setting the tone for what would be a high-energy, balanced offensive performance. Less than a minute before the quarter ended, running back Tyler Cunningham powered through the Greyhounds’ defensive line for a rushing touchdown, giving Templeton a 14-0 lead. The Eagles’ defense helped maintain the momentum, intercepting a pass in the opening frame to halt an Atascadero drive and setting up another scoring opportunity.

In the second quarter, Templeton continued to apply pressure, converting turnovers on downs into points with a rushing touchdown, then capping the half with a late passing score to extend the lead to 28-0. Atascadero finally found the end zone in the closing seconds of the half with a passing touchdown, reducing the deficit to 28-7 at intermission.

Templeton’s offensive attack was led by Tyler Cunningham, who rushed for 159 yards — his best ground performance since October 2024 — while adding 35 receiving yards and a touchdown. Colby Sims emerged as another key contributor, hauling in 108 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles’ balanced attack kept the Greyhounds’ defense on its heels throughout the first half.

The second half saw Atascadero fight to regain footing. Early in the third quarter, the Greyhounds engineered a long drive capped by a rushing touchdown to pull within 28-14. Templeton responded quickly in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-14. The Eagles’ defense continued to make critical plays, forcing an interception just minutes later to stall Atascadero’s momentum.

The Greyhounds struck once more with a 12-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 31-20 following a correction on the PAT. Templeton’s defense held strong in the closing minutes, forcing punts and sealing the victory with a late interception under a minute remaining.

Templeton’s defense was a key factor all night, intercepting three passes in total. Will Capaci, Sims, and Cameron Stevens each recorded an interception, with Sims converting his into a touchdown that proved pivotal in building the Eagles’ lead. Templeton’s ability to capitalize on turnovers and limit mistakes allowed them to maintain control even as Atascadero mounted a late rally.

The Greyhounds, meanwhile, struggled to sustain drives and overcome early mistakes. The loss marked their second straight and dropped their record to 2-3 on the season. Templeton, now 4-1, will open Ocean League play next week when they travel to face Santa Maria on Friday, Oct. 3, while Atascadero will look to rebound against the Santa Ynez Pirates in Sunset League action on the same night.

With a mix of explosive offense, opportunistic defense, and timely scoring, Templeton showcased why they are a team to watch this season, keeping their winning streak alive and asserting themselves as a formidable presence on the field.

Feature Image: Templeton running back Tyler Cunningham gains some yards against Atascadero during the Eagles’ 31-20 win on Friday, Sept. 26. Photos by Rick Evans/ATN