Everything was lined up for the California Pintos Friday night at Riley Field. It was Homecoming. The Pintos already had four consecutive wins under their belt...and they were still hungry. Thus, the inevitable outcome, a 42-0 win against the Southern Boone Eagles.
"Overall, it was a nice Homecoming win," California Coach Marty Albertson said. "With all of the activities going on, it was a little hard to focus, but I think we were efficient in the first half. We got a little sloppy in the second half, but I'm pleased overall."
The Pintos scored on all but three possessions; once in the first quarter, four times in the second, and once in the fourth, while holding the Eagles scoreless.
The Pintos got down to business with 2:39 left in the first quarter, when Luke Burger ran in a 3-yard TD. Aaron Cuevas nailed the point after, and California led 7-0.
Seth Fairchild got into the action with a 7-yard TD with 11:54 remaining in the second quarter. After Cuevas' PAT, the lead was at 14-0.
With 9:57 left in the first half, Walker Borghardt's punt return resulted in a 59-yard TD. Cuevas got the extra point and California led 21-0.
With 3:03 left in the second quarter, Burger scored another TD, this time an 8-yarder. Cuevas nailed the point after and the Pintos led 28-0.
With 1:15 remaining in the first half, Jerry Lutz scored on a 3-yard scamper. After Cuevas' PAT, California led 35-0.
Borghardt would've claimed another TD on a punt return midway through the third quarter, however, the run was negated by penalties.
The Pintos' tacked on one final score in the fourth quarter. Southern Boone's opening drive was cut short when California sophomore Landon Mouse intercepted an Eagle pass. Five plays later, sophomore AJ Kendrick ran in a 59-yard TD with 6:09 remaining.
California had 35 carries on the night for a total of 329 yards, and Jaden Barr completed 2 of 8 passes for 27 yards and threw one interception.
Fairchild led California with nine carries for 90 yards. Barr had four for 64 yards. Kendrick had 59 yards. Luke Burker had 11 for 45 yards, and Lutz had seven for 42 yards.
Souuthern Boone had 25 carries for a total of 42 yards. Brice Mueller completed 10 of 20 passes for 103 yards and threw one interception.
California had two turnovers, one was a fumble recovered by Southern Boone's David Holland in the opening drive of the first quarter, the other an interception by Holland in the second quarter. The Eagles had one turnover, the interception by Mouse in the fourth quarter.
Nathan Goans led Pinto tackles with four and two sacks. Nathan Squires had four tackles and one sack. Lutz and Fairchild each had five tackles. Ramiro Garcia had three tackles and one sack, and Mouse had three tackles and one interception.
"Our JV did a good job on defense in the third quarter, and they played all of the fourth quarter and kept Southern Boone from scoring, so they did a good job," Albertson said. "Now we can get on with the rest of the season."
California (5-0) will play Blair Oaks at 7 p.m. Friday at Wardsville, which is Homecoming for the Falcons.
"This will be our biggest game of the year so far," Albertson said. "They're on a four-game winning streak and it's their Homecoming. Hopefully their distractions will help us. It should be a good game."