Greyhounds fall to Bearcats 37–12 in longtime rivalry

By Atascadero News · Sat Oct 17 2026

Atascadero moves to 3–5 as Paso Robles claims first Sunset League victory

ATASCADERO — Atascadero High School fell to longtime rival Paso Robles 37–12 Friday, Oct. 16, at Atascadero Memorial Stadium, extending the Greyhounds’ losing streak to five games in a matchup carrying both Sunset League stakes and more than a century of North County history. The loss dropped Atascadero to 3–5 overall. Paso Robles improved to the same overall record while earning its first league victory, moving to 1–2 in Sunset League play. Both teams entered the evening seeking their first league win. The Greyhounds trailed 30–6 at the end of the third quarter, according to the scoring summary published by MaxPreps. Atascadero added six points in the fourth quarter, while Paso Robles scored seven more to complete the 25-point victory.

Atascadero entered the rivalry game after a 14–3 loss to Templeton in its league opener. Despite that defeat, the Greyhounds had limited an Eagles team that scored more than 40 points in each of its first six games to its lowest scoring total of the season. Against Paso Robles, however, Atascadero faced a Bearcats offense that rebounded from a 34–0 loss to Nipomo the previous week.

Friday’s game renewed a familiar rivalry within a changed league landscape. Atascadero, Paso Robles and Templeton are competing in the revamped Sunset League this season, adding standings implications to games already meaningful to North County players and supporters.

The athletic rivalry between Atascadero and Paso Robles dates to 1919. Through changing schedules and league affiliations, the annual football meeting has remained a fixture for generations of students, alumni and families. The schools’ orange and gray and crimson and white represent neighboring communities whose competition has endured well beyond any individual season.

For the Greyhounds, the focus now turns to ending their losing streak with two games remaining in the regular season. Atascadero faces Lompoc in its next league contest Friday, Oct. 23, while Paso Robles takes on Templeton in another North County matchup.

A full report will follow in this week’s edition of Atascadero News.