Bearcats run over Eagles in PAC-7

It wasn't until the third quarter that Arroyo Grande football finally established its bread-and-butter: the power running game.

By that time, however, Paso Robles had already established it can do a little bit of everything.

The Bearcats showcased a dominant all-around game on Friday night at Doug Hitchen Stadium, racking up a big halftime lead in what became a 35-14 win.

Arroyo Grande dropped to 0-3 in the PAC-7 and 2-6 overall. Paso Robles moved to 3-0 in league and 7-1 overall, taking the lead in the league standings after Atascadero's 21-13 loss to Righetti.

Despite the loss, Arroyo Grande showed flashes of a strong running game that once made it the PAC-7's strongest squad in the trenches.

“I thought we did a much better job of containing the line of scrimmage in the second half,” said Arroyo Grande coach Tom Goossen.

Arroyo Grande shared the wealth during two drives that capped the third and fourth quarters. Running backs Andrew Reza, George Lopez and Bo Cabalar did the bulk of the work - managing to chip at the Paso line before it finally broke for two rushing touchdowns.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, the offensive spark was too little, too late.

Paso Roble's defense only allowed three first downs in the first half. It gave Arroyo Grande just four offensive possessions.

And it then sat back, watching the offense score on all four of its possessions.

“It is certainly a diversified offense,” Goossen said. “They came out running the power-I. They showed they could spread you out - they could throw a little. They had the whole package.”

After Arroyo Grande failed on its first offensive attempt of the game, Paso Robles embarked on a 16-play drive that ate up a majority of the first quarter.

Getting the nod at quarterback was sophomore Tom Bernal, who was the Bearcats' third different starter at quarterback in the last three weeks. Last week's starter, Austin Flynn, did not play and the No. 1 starter, Brandon Ladley, saw a few snaps in the fourth quarter.

Bernal got the offense rolling on completions of 23 and 21 yards to wide receivers Brett Wise and Jay Faulkenberry, respectively. The rest was picked up by running back Nathan Nelson, who entered the game with 652 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Nelson ran for gains of 13, 7 and 2 before he capped the drive with a 1-yard score up the middle.

Arroyo Grande was left with 2:50 in the first quarter, and promptly returned the ball to the Paso Robles' offense after a three-and-out.

Paso Robles set out on another successful drive that carried into the second quarter - the game's defining quarter.

Paso Robles went on to score three touchdowns: the first at 9:53 on Josh Weferling's 22-yard burst; the second at 4:37 on Bernal's 20-yard strike to Michael Stark; and the third with 28 seconds left on Bernal's 1-yard keeper.

Paso Robles took a commanding 28-0 lead into halftime.

“But we came out hard in the second half,” Tom Goossen said. “A lot of teams would have folded.”

Instead, the Eagles pounded - discovering their ground game.

Paso Robles failed on its two offensive tries in the third quarter before Arroyo Grande found its power running game.

Starting at its own 29-yard line, Arroyo Grande marched down the field on 13 plays - all rushes - before scoring with 9 seconds left in the quarter. It was Cabalar's 4-yard touchdown that first put AG on the scoreboard.

“Bo plays like a man that's 240 pounds instead of 140,” Goossen said of his junior tailback. Cabalar finised with 24 yards on six carries.

In the fourth, it was Lopez' turn.

Lopez, who finished with a team-high 58 rushing yards, broke free on a 30-yard scamper to score the final Eagles' touchdown.

“He's capable of doing that on almost any play,” Goossen said. “You just have to give him a little crease.”

Lopez' score matched Paso Robles' touchdown earlier in the quarter, coming on Nelson's 19-yard run. Bernal finished 12-of-18 for 162 passing yards. Nelson finished with 95 rushing yards and the two touchdowns.

After the game, Goossen was proud of his team's effort.

“They work as hard as any team I've ever had,” he said.

Arroyo Grande's next game comes at Righetti on Friday.

Oct. 27, 2007