One graduating class from a small school in AG has produced 11 prep football starters
In newspaper clippings, box-scores, recorded highlights from local television news and revisited memories from a Friday night beneath the stadium lights, the names and plays of this year’s high school football season are stamped in both ink and the back of any high school football fan’s mind.
A handoff from Jacob Cano to KJ Cusack for a 99-yard run, a Matt McAustin touchdown pass to John Alexander, a Jordan Puhek tackle or Kevin Laird interception are all devoted to memory.
For 11 football stars who graduated from a single small elementary and junior high school in Arroyo Grande, these moments of gridiron glory continue to be added to the great memories they already share with each other.
On one early November night, crunch time in the high school football playoff race, the stars of St. Joseph, Mission Prep and Arroyo Grande High all met for a reunion — both a celebration of the past and present. These former students of St. Patrick’s School, a pre-school through junior high institution located in the heart of AG, all graduated in the same class back in 2006.
From a class of around 40 kids (of which 18 were boys), 11 are starting fixtures on CIF playoff teams.
For St. Joseph, there is KJ Cusack (1,151 rushing yards 26 total touchdowns), Jacob Cano (639 passing yards, 14 total TDs), Jordan Puhek (46 total tackles), Chad Hunsted (10 tackles) and Nolan Adlesh (two receiving TDs).
Representing Arroyo Grande are Matt McAustin (1380 passing yards, 11 TDs), Russell Perkins (638 rushing yards, 8 TDs) and John Alexander (3 interceptions, 1 receiving TD).
St. Pat’s graduates at Mission Prep include stars Kevin Laird (23 total touchdowns), John Sansone (74 total tackles) and offensive tackle Domenic Baima.
Such a wealth of talent from just one small class is extraordinary.
“To have that many (St. Pats graduates) doing so well in football and to look at the receiving and total yardage for Laird, McAustin, Cusack, Cano, and the rest, it is amazing that they’re all top in the area,” St. Pat’s coach and PE teacher Rob Burt said.
Amongst awe from their former coaches, teachers, and above all each other, this group of athletes continues to defy the odds and convention.
“About 10 out of 20 guys are starting, which is an amazing stat,” AG quarterback Matt McAustin said.
According to Burt, “A lot has to go right to make it all the way to senior year — it takes a lot of ‘stick-to-it-ness’ and a lot of (great athletes) fall by the wayside.”
But, for the St. Pat’s 11, the playground they shared since kindergarten was what helped fuel their athletic endevours and competitive spirit — as all the boys recount tales of gray and white uniformed days playing basketball on the school’s blacktop.
St. Joseph starting quarterback Jacob Cano vividly remembers those daily competitions.
“Everyday people would be coming in from recess and they would be drenched in sweat with basketball stains all over their shirt,” he said.
With over 90 touchdowns combined, this type of concentrated athletic prowess is rare. The group’s mark on its former school can be seen in St. Pat’s gym in the form of a banner declaring a 26-8 record over a two-year span.
Now, back together for the first time since 2006 graduation, the group easily gets back into form, reminiscing, laughing and telling stories of pranks they once pulled — letting Friday’s games slip far from their minds.
Making a visit to the reunion of friends and family is a former teacher, Sister Margaret Malone, who has some stories of her own.
“They came back one afternoon after they had already graduated dressed in the St. Pat’s uniform,” Sr. Margaret remembers.
“They snuck into the classroom — and once everyone was sitting down, working diliigently, the whole class was quiet, so I knew something was up. Then I saw Adlesh with his head to the side so I wouldn’t see his face and Puhek was another one,” she said laughing.
Yes, this group of seniors is incredibly good and have led their teams into the playoffs, but despite attending three separate schools they have become each others biggest fans.
“I’ll see Kevin make a sick catch or John making a touchdown and it’s awesome to say ‘those are my friends,’” Jordan Puhek said.