Paso Robles Prepares For CIF Regional Game
Just days after winning the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division championship, the Paso Robles football team is back on the practice field.
“We won CIF and that was awesome, we’re stoked about that, but we have another game ahead of us on Saturday, so we’re just going to grind it out this week,” said Bailey Gaither, Paso Robles senior wide receiver/safety.
The Bearcats (13-1), ranked 18th in California in the latest MaxPreps state rankings, will face 16th ranked El Capitan of Lakeside this Saturday night.
“Real proud of the guys, said head coach Rich Schimke. “They’ve really evolved into special. We had talked about it way back when we first started this whole journey and the guys that have stuck with it, they stayed together, stayed the course and a lot of trust going on.”
The Bearcats’ appearance in the 2014 CIF Regional Football Championship Bowl Games presented by Farmers marks the first time a Central Coast team has earned a spot in the state playoffs.
“The guys are hungry, honestly, I feel like some of the guys have had this in the back of their minds,” said Schimke. “They read social media, they see where we’re ranked and stuff like that and they’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Senior tight end/linebacker Jonathan Baldwin, who scored a touchdown in Friday’s win over Newbury Park said the team will be not only representing Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County, but the entire Central Coast as well.
“Very proud, you know, want to represent nicely, want to go and get this and bring it back this county, for sure,” said Baldwin.
The Vaqueros (13-0) will certainly present Paso Robles with a difficult challenge. The Grossmont Hills League champions captured the CIF-San Diego Section Division II title with a 14-7 win on Friday over Rancho Bernardo. The win was the first in school history and cemented the Vaqueros’ position as the top seed in the CIF state Division III rankings.
Schimke and the Bearcats received video from the Vaqueros on Sunday afternoon and quickly went to work establishing a game plan.
“Very multiple on offense, defensively, they’re kind of like us, they do what they do, there’s not a lot of blitzing going on, but what they do, they do well, and you can do tell those guys have played together for a long time,” said Schimke.
Gaither, who along with fellow senior Josh Oliver, has committed to play at San Jose State, should once again be the focal point of the Bearcat offensive. The 6’1″ 172 lb. standout led the Pac-5 League with 30 touchdowns, but figures to have a stern test against a defense Vaquero coach Ron Burner says is the best in the San Diego Section.
“They’re a real talented group, obviously they’re 13-0 for a reason, they won their CIF. Their defense is real good, their offense is good as well, we’re just going to go at them and give it their all.”
Another challenge the Bearcats will face is an unusually long road trip. Paso Robles will navigate the nearly 700 mile round trip by leaving San Luis Obispo County on Friday.
“Schedule is going to be a little tough, said Schimke, who is in his 16th season leading the Bearcats. “Having to drive down, we’ll drive down to Temecula on Friday and then we’re going to spend the night, something that I haven’t done it as a head coach before.
A win this weekend would propel the Bearcats into the CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game to face the Northern California champion, either Campolindo (Moraga) or Sutter. Schimke admits his players might be thinking about playing in the game, but is keeping the team focused on El Capitan.
“It’s next play motto, who’s our next opponent, what game do we have to win, it’s the next one, it’s part of our journey and if we’re fortunate to get through and move on and represent the area in the state, so be it,” said Schimke.
Paso Robles will play at El Capitan High School in Lakeside on Saturday, December 13. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game is scheduled for Saturday, December 20 at Noon at the StubHub Center in Carson.
