Atascadero, Paso Robles, and Templeton kick off season with new challenges, familiar rivalries, and shared home in Sunset League

With August upon us, we are close to our North County schools opening up for another academic year, with Atascadero, Paso Robles, and Templeton high schools starting off the fall semester in the middle of August.

Along with new classes and a return to campus, the fall semester means more action on the gridiron for the North County football squads. The Atascadero Greyhounds, Paso Robles Bearcats, and Templeton Eagles will begin playing officially in the third week of August, and there's an added twist this year: All three will be league rivals, competing in the Sunset League, along with Lompoc and Nipomo.

ATASCADERO HIGH SCHOOL

Atascadero High will begin classes for the fall on Wednesday, August 12, as seniors begin their final year and soon will begin planning their graduation, and incoming freshmen try to navigate the beginning of their four formative years — and don't forget the sophomores and juniors who are continuing their journey. And parents can look forward to Back to School Night, which happens on Wednesday, August 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, they all can look forward to Friday nights as the Greyhounds begin another year with head coach Dan Loney at the helm. AHS returns to action after a 2025 season in which the Greyhounds finished 5-6 after a heartbreaking loss in the first round of the CIF playoffs. That loss — a double-overtime thriller that ended 35-34 when AHS missed on a two-point conversion attempt — was to Nipomo, whom the Greyhounds will be facing in a preseason scrimmage on Thursday, August 13, and in the last regular season game on October 30.

Atascadero will officially begin its season on Thursday, August 20, by hosting Delano at 6 p.m., and then welcomes Golden Valley of Bakersfield on Friday, August 28, at 7 p.m. Other notable dates for the Greyhounds include the AHS Homecoming on Friday, September 25, against Santa Ynez; a game at Templeton on Friday, October 9; and the Greyhounds annual battle against their traditional rivals, the Paso Robles Bearcats at AHS on Friday, Oct. 16.

Of course, the football team will not be the only student-athletes wearing the orange and grey this fall, as the AHS cross country, boys and girls water polo, girls golf, girls tennis, and girls volleyball teams will also be competing. Good luck to all the Greyhound students and athletes this year.

GREYHOUNDS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

August 13

Opponent: Nipomo (Scrimmage)

JV 5 p.m. | Varsity 6:30 p.m.

August 20*

Opponent: Delano

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 6 p.m.

August 28*

Opponent: Golden Valley

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

September 4

Opponent: Morro Bay

JV 5 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

September 11

Opponent: San Luis Obispo

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

September 18

BYE WEEK

September 25*

Opponent: Santa Ynez (Homecoming)

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 2

Opponent: Arroyo Grande

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 9

Opponent: Templeton (Sunset League Starts)

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 16*

Opponent: Paso Robles (Rivalry Game)

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 23

Opponent: Lompoc

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 30*

Opponent: Nipomo

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

November 6

CIF Central Section Playoffs Begin

*Home games

PASO ROBLES HIGH SCHOOL

After two months off for summer, the Paso Robles High campus will be a hive of activity in August as classes start for the 2026-27 academic year on Thursday, August 13. Students, both new and old will be getting used to their new schedules, while teachers will be welcoming back students and learning new names. Meanwhile, parents can see what's new when they attend Back to School Night on Xxxxxx, Aug. XX.

And with the onset of the fall semester, all the Bearcat boosters can look forward to all the action at War Memorial Stadium at Flamson Junior High as the PRHS football team, led by head coach Matt Carroll, embarks on another season. The Bearcats are coming off a 4-7 record in 2025, ending with a loss to Kennedy High of Delano in the first round of the CIF playoffs. However, the team can point to a strong finish to the regular season as they posted wins over Mission Prep and Lompoc (now a Sunset League foe) in the last two games. The Bearcats can also brag about their big win over Atascadero in 2025, and hope to carry that over to this year's rivalry game.

PRHS will begin prepping for the season with a scrimmage against host San Luis Obispo High on Friday, August 14, and then start it for real on Friday, August 21, when Bishop Diego of Santa Barbara comes up for a 7 p.m. game. PRHS is looking forward to big crowds on Friday, September 25, for its Homecoming game against Cabrillo; and on Friday, October 16, when it travels to Atascadero for the teams' big rivalry game. A week after, the Bearcats face Templeton (October 23) and then end the regular season with a game at Righetti on Friday, October 30.

PRHS will see many other student-athletes wearing the maroon and white this fall, as the schools' cross country, boys and girls water polo, girls golf, girls tennis, and girls volleyball teams will also be competing. Go Bearcats, and best of luck.

BEARCATS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

August 14

Opponent: San Luis Obispo (Scrimmage)

JV 5 p.m. | Varsity 6:30 p.m.

August 21*

Opponent: Bishop Diego

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 6 p.m.

August 28

Opponent: Arroyo Grande

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

September 4*

Opponent: St. Joseph

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

September 11

Opponent: Highland

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

September 18

BYE WEEK

September 25*

Opponent: Cabrillo (Homecoming)

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 2*

Opponent: Lompoc

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 9

Opponent: Nipomo

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 16

Opponent: Atascadero (Rivalry Game)

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 23*

Opponent: Templeton

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 30

Opponent: Righetti

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

November 6

CIF Central Section Playoffs Begin

*Home games

TEMPLETON HIGH SCHOOL

After a summer break of fun and sunny days along Main Street and beyond, students at Templeton High will be returning to classes to begin the fall semester on Tuesday, August 18. The campus will again be alive with students searching for their classes, getting reunited with old friends, and making new ones. Those curious can come to the school on Wednesday, August 26, for the THS Open House and see what's going on.

Meanwhile, the whole town can look forward to Friday nights and more football action as the Eagles, led by head coach Don Crow, return to the field, and, oh, what a ride they had last season.

Templeton steamrolled their opponents in 2025 on their way to a 10-0 regular season record and the Ocean League championship. The Eagles racked up a total of 418 points during that run (41.8 points per game if you do the math) and earned the top seed in the CIF Central Section's Division IV. From there, they made it to the championship game before falling to Immanuel High of Reedley.

This season, the Eagles move to a new league, the Sunset, along with fellow north SLO County schools Atasadero and Paso Robles. Templeton kicks off the season with a road game at Caruthers High on Friday, August 21, and then plays its home opener on Friday, October 28, against Santa Maria. The Eagles will celebrate Homecoming on Friday, September 25, with a game against Pioneer Valley, then play Atascadero at home on Friday, October 9, and Paso Robles on the road on Friday, October 23.

Football won't be the only sport played at Templeton High in the fall. The Eagles will also field teams in cross country, girls golf, girls tennis, and girls volleyball. Good luck to all the Eagles students and athletes.

EAGLES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

August 21

Opponent: Caruthers

JV 5 p.m. | Varsity 7:30 p.m.

August 28*

Opponent: Santa Maria

JV 5 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.

September 4*

Opponent: Coalinga

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.

September 11 (Rivalry Game)

Opponent: Morro Bay

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

September 18

BYE WEEK

September 25* (Homecoming)

Opponent: Pioneer Valley

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.

October 2

Opponent: Nipomo

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 9*

Opponent: Atascadero

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.

October 16*

Opponent: San Luis Obispo

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:15 p.m.

October 23

Opponent: Paso Robles

JV 4:30 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

October 30

Opponent: Lompoc

JV 4 p.m. | Varsity 7 p.m.

November 6

CIF Central Section Playoffs Begin

*Home games