SEASON RECORD 1-1

GAME SCORE

Atascadero 7   Clovis 14

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Clovis 14, Atascadero 7: Four lost fumbles prove costly to Greyhounds
By Donovan Aird | daird@thetribunenews.com

Almost in unison, Atascadero High football players came off the field shaking their heads, screaming and gesturing in frustration.

The Greyhounds’ collectively cathartic walk off the Memorial Stadium field Friday night came after they’d just fumbled for the sixth time, and lost a fumble for the fourth, during a 14-7 loss to visiting Clovis.

“We turned it over way too many times,” Atascadero coach Vic Cooper said. “We kept our defense out there way too long, and nothing good’s ever going to come from that.”

By the time Atascadero running back Sterling Bullard lost the Greyhounds’ final fumble of the night, and Clovis recovered at its own 39-yard line with 6:32 remaining in regulation, the Greyhounds already trailed by the final margin.

“We need to hold on to the ball,” Cooper said. “In the end, it was just (Greyhounds defenders) being gassed because they had been out there for too long.”

In their opening game, the Greyhounds were plus-two in the turnover battle while rallying from a 21-14 halftime deficit at Clovis East to prevail 33-21.

“We were fortunate they gave us a lot of turnovers,” Clovis coach Rich Hammond said. “I’m sure that’s not characteristic of playing Atascadero.”

Atascadero (1-1) had a final chance with about 21⁄2 minutes left, taking over at its own 19-yard line, but its drive fell short, and Clovis ran out the clock.

On the Clovis series just before Atascadero’s fourth lost fumble, Cougars quarterback Trey Mitchell scored on a 3-yard keeper with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter to post what was ultimately the final score. His touchdown was set up by a 39-yard catch-and-run by Johnathon Vietty down the right sideline.

Directing Hammond’s pass-heavy spread offense, Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior who alternated with another passer last week, parlayed a strong week of practice into the starting job and finished 19-of-29 passing for 234 yards. Clovis was held to just 29 yards rushing.

“They’re as good against the run as anyone I’ve seen,” Hammond said of Atascadero warranting his pass-heavy scheme. “(Mitchell) really grew as a quarterback. He did a great job reading and throwing it into spaces they weren’t.”

Beau Hine caught a game-high five passes for 93 yards for Clovis.

“Our receivers did a great job getting open,” Mitchell said.

Greyhounds quarterback Jesse Whitten, in his second varsity start, finished 10-of-18 passing for 99 yards, and rushed for 22 yards on five carries. Behind a stout, veteran offensive line, he scored Atascadero’s touchdown on a 3-yard run around right end with 5:19 left in the third quarter, capping a lengthy, run-only drive that tied the contest at 7.

“We’re going to ride that offensive line,” Cooper said of Atascadero’s run-exclusive scoring march. “They had their moments tonight.”

On the opening kickoff return of the second half, Atascadero’s Troy Norris fumbled after advancing all the way into Clovis territory, setting up the Cougars at their own 45-yard line.

Bullard finished with a team-best 37 rushing yards on 14 carries in defeat.

Atascadero kept matters close in the first half by sacking Mitchell three times, stifling Clovis drives.

Mitchell put the Cougars ahead 7-0 on a 1-yard keeper on the last play of the first quarter.

“They pretty much did what we expected them to do,” Cooper said of Clovis. “They just executed a little better than we did.”

Taylor Ferguson