Atascadero-Paso Football Game 2011

Tonight I attended the 2011 addition of the Atascadero High School Greyhounds versus the Paso Robles High School Bearcats rivalry game at War Memorial Stadium in Paso Robles, CA. I misunderstood when the game started and left home for the game late. Adding to my lateness was the fact I elected to walk to the game from my home eight blocks away. Consequently, I arrived just in time for halftime. The Greyhounds jumped out to an early 13-0 lead in the first quarter but the Bearcats outscored the Greyhounds 14-0 in the second quarter to take a one point lead at halftime. In the second half the two teams exchanged scores but the Greyhounds attempted a 2-point conversion to make up the difference from their missed PAT kick in the first half misfired and found themselves down by two points 19-21 early in the 4th quarter. Later, the Bearcats added another touchdown to pad their lead to 28-19 which would be the final score. The crowd was smaller and more subdued than usual due to the weather.A cut-off low pressure system that arrived earlier in the day saturated the field by game time and continued to douse the field throughout most of the game. I noticed several things have changed over the years since my playing days for the Greyhounds (1985-1988). One of those things was that the weather even played a role in how many folks showed up at the game. Twenty years or more ago the weather would not have affected the attendance and enthusiasm of the crowd. Of course, it did not help that the Bearcats are lousy this year and that the Greyhounds are mediocre and came into the game with barely a chance of making the playoffs and those chances are even slimmer as a result of losing tonight.

Halftime quietude on the field.

This was a mud bowl and the conditions greatly effected the game.

The visitor side of the field was empty compared to how it used to be in my day.

The halftime score continued halfway through the 3rd quarter.

The rain poured down steadily for much of the game interspersed with periods of drizzle.

The Greyhounds gathering for the 3rd quarter with little energy.

The Greyhounds lacked any fire as was the case in the game here two years ago.

It was clear in this game who was playing and who was not by how muddy the uniform.

The visitor sideline was a muddy morass.

The Bearcats drew first blood in the second half.

It seems to me there are fewer players and more cheerleaders than in my day.

Professional photographers shot by an amateur photographer.

The home crowd bleachers were not even close to being packed as was the case in my day.

The Greyhounds struck back early in the 4th but missed the 2-point conversion.

By this point late in the 4th quarter the inevitable outcome was apparent.

These games used to be electric in my playing days but no more it seems. .

By this point the Greyhounds needed two scores too late in the game.

The final score of the game.

All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved)