The plan was simple: Let the play-clock run down to one second and call timeout. The result, however, was anything but simple.
With the California football team setting up for a potential go-ahead field goal in Friday night's Class 3 District 6 final against rival Blair Oaks, head coach Marty Albertson gave detailed instructions to senior quarterback Jaden Barr, who also serves as the team's holder on field goals.
"I told Jaden, "Tell the referee we're going to do a hard-count, go down to one second and then call timeout,'" said Albertson, whose team was facing a fourth down with less than two minutes left in the game. "The referee didn't do it for some reason."
With no timeout awarded, the play-clock ran down to zero, resulting in a delay of game penalty against the Pintos and turning a 30-yard field goal attempt by sophomore kicker Jose Magana into a more challenging 35-yard attempt. Despite the extra distance, Albertson decided to still kick the field goal.
"We were within Jose's range," he said. "He's pretty good from inside 40 yards."
With a light wind behind the Pintos, Barr and Magana prepared for the biggest kick of Magana's young football career. Barr, kneeling at the Blair Oaks' 25-yard line with 1:34 remaining, called for the ball from junior snapper Hunter RuBert as California players watched helplessly on the sidelines.
"I was on the ground praying," senior Walker Borghardt recalled. "I said, "Please, please, please.' I knew he was going to make it. I had that feeling."
With a good snap from RuBert and good hold from Barr, Magana nailed a perfect kick through the uprights, giving the Pintos a 32-30 lead with 1:25 left. That ended up being the final score, lifting California to a third consecutive district championship and spot in the state quarterfinals.
"I have faith in our kicker and our coach's decisions," Barr said after the Pintos received their district plaque. "I knew the kick was good as soon as it came off his foot. I was celebrating right there with Jose." The decision to kick a field goal, instead of running a play on fourth-and-9 and trying to get a first down, turned out to be the right move.
"That's why we practice it every day, so when we get an opportunity, our chances are good to make it," said California special teams coach Rick Edwards. "Jose has done an excellent job. There's a learning curve to kicking, but he's worked extremely hard. He's kicking the ball well now."
Although the victory was thrilling and emotional, the Pintos couldn't celebrate for long. California (12-0), ranked No. 2 in Class 3, got back to work Monday preparing for its next opponent. The Pintos host Orchard Farm (10-2), the District 5 champion, at 7 p.m. Friday at Riley Field.
Albertson was expecting to receive game tape on Orchard Farm so he could develop a game plan. The two teams have not met this season.
"We'll get tape (Saturday), so we'll have all weekend to watch the tape," he said. "When we come in Monday, we'll have our plan figured out. We'll have our plan ready when the kids get here."
After a sluggish first half against Blair Oaks (9-3), which resulted in a 23-14 deficit, Barr gave his teammates an emotional halftime speech in the locker room.
"I told them, "Hop on my back,'" Barr said. "All the seniors stepped up. We basically said, "We aren't losing this game. We aren't losing a game on this field.'"
Barr lived up to his promise, getting the Pintos within 23-21 on a 16-yard scoring run with 3:35 left in the third quarter. California took the lead on Barr's 21-yard touchdown pass to junior Landon Mouse with 7:38 left in the fourth. Barr's 2-point conversion run put the Pintos ahead 29-23.
Not to be outdone, Blair Oaks answered quickly with a four-play, 66-yard scoring drive that took only 1 minute, 27 seconds. Falcons quarterback Jordan Hair found receiver C.J. Closser for a 37-yard touchdown to tie the score at 29-all. Chris Cooper's extra point gave Blair Oaks a one-point advantage with 6:11 left.
"We weren't going to lose without a fight," Borghardt said. "I knew it would come down to the wire. Blair Oaks is a great football team and they're not going to lose this district championship, either. But when it came down to it, we just wanted it more."
Starting on their own 27-yard line, the Pintos marched down the field, running 10 plays to get within field-goal range. Barr's 1-yard run put the ball on Blair Oaks' 14-yard line to set up fourth-and-4. The delay of game penalty moved the ball to the 19, and Magana nailed the winning kick.
"He got a lot of foot into it," Albertson said. "It was good by probably 10 yards."
The Falcons had one last chance, getting the ball on their own 31 with 1:17 left. But the Pintos' defense held strong, not allowing Blair Oaks to get within field-goal range. California senior Ramiro Garcia had a key sack during the final drive to help seal the come-from-behind win.
"With our offense, we knew it wasn't over (being down nine at halftime)," Albertson said. "I wanted our kids to play their hearts out and have no regrets. We left it all on the field."
Barr led the way, rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns, and passing for 113 yards and another score. Borghardt, who was limited to only 18 yards rushing, had a 79-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter to give the Pintos a 7-3 lead. Senior Allan Burger led the California defense with nine tackles.