Photo and Article Courtesy of Mario Estrada, Jr.

Missing 5 starters from the roster, it looked as though the Salinas Cowboys would definitely be the underdogs facing the rough and tough Atascadero Greyhounds.  Atascadero would come in to this game after a 41-0 thumping of Cabrillo of Lompoc led by QB Harrison Higbee, RB Ryan Bugg and RB Brandon McMillan. However, it would be the Cowboys night as they took advantage of the Greyhound turnovers in the 2nd half to win 20-17.  The Cowboys would be lead by QB Ryan Laughton, WR Chris Choate, and Kicker Francisco Araujo who would decide theGreyhounds fate in the final seconds of the game.

The 1st quarter started out with Salinas taking the opening kickoff.  Daniel Orozco took the handoff from the 20 down to the 49 yardline.  However the Greyhound defense stepped up and forced the Cowboys to punt 3 plays later.  The Greyhounds would start out the same way as Ryan Bugg took the handoff from the 18 yard line and ran to the 31.  But the Cowboy defense would respond and would force the Greyhounds to punt.

It wouldnt be until the 2nd Quarter that things started to get interesting.  After a Greyhound punt, the Cowboys began a drive at the 45 yard line. On 2nd and 8, QB Ryan Laughton ran it on a keeper down to the 15 yard line.  The Cowboys were poised to put up the first points of the ball game. Once again, the Greyhound defense would respond once more.  3 plays later faced with a 4th and 1, the Cowboys decided to go for it from the 4 yard line.  But the Greyhounds would deny the Cowboys and would take over on downs at the 4. The Greyhounds deep in their own territory would go 3 and out and punt back to the Cowboys.  A fumble by theCowboys on the next play would give the Hounds good field position at their own 36 with 5:37 left in the half.  The Greyhounds would put together a 10 play 64 yard drive behind the running of Ryan Bugg and Brandon McMillan.  Sean Kennedy added a crucial reception from the 28 to the 11 yard line.   With 1:22 left in the half, Harrison Higbee connected with Brandon McMillan from 5 yards out.  Extra point was good and the Hounds were up 7-0 to end the 1st half.

3rd Quarter began with the Greyhounds off to a good start.  Using a more balance attack, the Greyhounds effectively ate up the clock.  Brandon McMillan took the first handoff from the 24 to the 35 followed up by a RyanBugg 10 yard run to the 45.  Higbee connected with Bronson Barnett for another 10 yards.  2 plays later Higbee would find TE Evan Arnold for a 14 yard catch to the 26.  But the Cowboys defense would only allow the Greyhounds to come away with a Field Goal.  With 5:53 left in the 3rd the Greyhounds were up 10-0.

On the next Salinas drive however, the tide began to turn. Starting from the 20, it would be Travis Dozier, Chris Baddow and Christian Taylor  taking the ball on the ground bring the Cowboys to the Greyhound 43 yard line.  QB Ryan Laughton once again on the keeper broke a 25 yard run down to the 18 yard line. The Greyhound defense once more would get stingy,  and the Cowboys would come away with a 42 yard field goal by Francisco Araujo to put the Cowboys on the board with a 10-3 score.  In the closing moments of the 3rd, the Greyhounds began their next drive. Turnovers and penalties would hurt the Greyhounds in the 2nd half.  Ryan Bugg took the handoff and then was hit by 2 Cowboy defenders. Ball came loose and Christian Taylor scooped it up for the Cowboys at the 15 yard line.  3 plays later the Cowboys went to Francisco Araujo for another Cowboy field goal.  Araujo missed, but a roughing the kicker penalty put the Cowboys at the 7 yard line. 2 plays later Xavier Caballos ran it in from 4 yards out and the Cowboys were tied up with the Hounds 10-10 in the opening moments of the 4th quarter.

It didnt get any better for the Greyhounds on their next possession.  After a penalty and 2 incomplete passes the Hounds were faced with a 3rd and 15.  Harrison Higbee found Ryan Bugg for 28 yard reception but then fumbled the ball away again and the Cowboys recovered at the 44.  On the very next play Ryan Laughton hit Chris Choate down the sideline for a 44 yard TD pass and the Cowboys were up 10-17with 9:49 left to play.  The Greyhounds still had some life left.  With 4:53, the Greyhounds began driving once more. A balanced attack would eat up a lot of clock as the Greyhounds drove down the field behind the running of Ryan Bugg, Brandon McMillan and receiving of Bronson Barnett to bring the Hounds to the 18 yard line.  Ryan Bugg took the next handoff and the Hounds were at the 2 yard line.  2 plays later Harrison Higbee punched it in for the score, extra point was good, and the game was tied 17-17 with :38 seconds in the ball game.

With only :38 seconds left who would have imagined what happened next.  Christian Taylor took the ensuing kick off to the 27 yard line.  But a face mask penalty charged to the Greyhounds put the Cowboys at the 42 yard line.  On the next play Ryan Laughton found Chris Choate for a 26 yard reception to the Greyhound 32 yard line with :21 seconds left.  The Cowboys would use their timeout effectively as Chris Choate and Christian Taylor would lead the Cowboys to the 18 yard line.  With just :04seconds left in the game the Cowboys called upon kicker Francisco Araujo.  The kick was up, split the uprights and the Cowboys charged the field as they won in dramatic fashion over the hard hitting Greyhounds 17-20.


Mario Estrada Jr. (MrDrinkman)

Stats

Atacadero

First Downs   15
Rushes   33-108
Passing yards   169
Passes   13-23-1
Total yards   277
Fumbles-lost   2-2
Penalties-yards  8-68

Salinas

First Downs  10
Rushes-yards   42-186
Passing yards  79
Passes   4-5-0
Total yards   265
Fumbles-lost   1-1
Penalties-yards   4-30

Rushing Salinas
Ryan Laughton 10-71
Christian Taylor 7-70
Chris Baddow 15-39
Daniel Orozco 6-7

Passing
Ryan Laughton 4-5-0 including a 44 TD pass

Receiving
Chris Choate 3-76 including a 44 TD Reception
Daniel Orozco 1-3

Extra Points and Field Goals
Francisco Araujo good from 42 yards, and game winning 36 yard field goal and 2 extra points.

Xavier Caballos also with a 3 yard TD run.