Paso Robles Bearcats tame the Clovis Cougars
Jonathan Baldwin scores one of his three touchdowns in the first quarter of the Bearcats’ 48-30 non-league win over Clovis. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Railsback
Paso Robles 48, Clovis 30
Paso High wide receiver Bailey Gaither had 148 receiving yards on four receptions and scored two touchdowns for a total of 12 points for the Bearcats. Photo by Jennifer Railsback
The varsity Paso Robles High School football team brought home a 48-30 victory over Clovis on Friday night in what Rich Schimke, head varsity coach for the Bearcats, called “a good start” to the 2014 season.
Jonathan Baldwin, a senior in his third year at the varsity level for the Bearcats, got things started off defensively with two interception returns that resulted in the first two touchdowns of the night for Paso Robles in the non-league game. Before Clovis had a chance to recover, Baldwin scored again on the offensive side for the Bearcats – it was the third of a total of seven touchdowns that the Paso boys would celebrate on the Cougars’ turf.
Baldwin finished the night with 20 receiving yards on two interceptions, and scored three touchdowns for a total of 18 points.
The Bearcats led the Cougars, 26-3 at the end of the first quarter. Clovis pushed back in the second quarter, adding another 13 points to the scoreboard while Paso added another 6 for a 32-16 lead over Clovis at the half.
Christian Erickson scored his first touchdown as a varsity Bearcat on Friday night. Photo by Jennifer Railsback
The third quarter had the two teams fairly-evenly matched, scoring another touchdown apiece and Clovis adding a PAT. The fourth quarter sealed the deal for Paso Robles; although the Cougars managed to add a touchdown and PAT to the scoreboard, the Bearcats were a force to be reckoned with – including senior defensive back Parker Gray, whose interception on the goal line was a highlight of the game.
“Parker had an incredible interception for us on the goal line,” said Schimke. “We scored against Clovis on the ensuing drive and put the game out of reach for Clovis.”
Paso Robles finished the game with a total of 162 rushing yards and 231 passing yards, while Clovis had 253 rushing and 216 passing yards. Returning wide receiver Bailey Gaither had 148 receiving yards on four receptions and scored two touchdowns for a total of 12 points on the night.
Senior defensive back Cooper Silva is celebrated by his fellow Bearcats after his interception on Friday against Clovis. Photo by Jennifer Railsback
“Bailey had a lot of big plays,” said Schimke of Gaither, a senior. “He played both sides of the ball for us. He is a big-play guy, so we have come to expect him to do those things for us.”
Bearcats Christian Erickson, a sophomore, and Ty Jones, a junior, scored their first touchdowns as varsity players. Erickson finished with 152 rushing yards on 30 carries, and 12 receiving yards on one reception, while Jones had 51 receiving yards on four receptions.
Paso Robles quarterback Justin Davis, a junior, completed 11 of 16 for a total of 231 passing yards and had five rushing yards. Senior defensive back Cooper Silva nabbed one interception for the Bearcats. Returning kicker Bryce Pasky completed 3 of 6 PATs and one field goal, not his best record, but something he will “shake off and improve upon,” according to Schimke.
“Bryce is the best kicker in the area,” said Schimke. “He is a tremendous kicker, really, and he is just getting started this season.”
Paso Robles (1-0) is set to host the Camarillo Scorpions (1-0) at War Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in a non-league game.
Bryce Pasky kicked in three PATs and one field goal for the Bearcats in their 48-30 win over Clovis. Photo by Jennifer Railsback
Comments
