San Luis Obispo Delivers Big Plays

Matt McCormick or Scott Garrison didn’t attend the last San Luis Obispo championship celebration. After all, they had not been born yet.

Saturday, McCormick’s 203 rushing yards and Garrison’s two touchdowns, including a 60-yard interception return, were the key factors in San Luis Obispo’s 27-14 victory over Dos Pueblos in the Southern Section Division IV championship game before 12,000 at UC Santa Barbara.

It was the Tigers’ first section title in 21 years. They lost in the finals in 1998 and ’99.

“I was not here [in 1980],” said Garrison, who played in his third championship game. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Garrison’s interception return gave the Tigers (11-3) a 20-0 halftime lead. It was the second of two interceptions that doomed Dos Pueblos (11-3).

Daniel Higgins’ 85-yard interception return in the second quarter gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead.

McCormick, who rushed 26 times for one touchdown, gained 139 in the second half.

Dos Pueblos quarterback Shane Lopes completed 16 of 31 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown. But his three interceptions deep in Tiger territory stalled the Chargers.

“It wasn’t one play that killed us,” said Dos Pueblos Coach Jeff Uyesaka, who guided the Charges to their first championship game appearance. “It was two big disasters.”