The California Pintos traveled to Hallsville Friday night for game #5 of the 2014 season, where they dominated the field from the start, and ultimately defeated the Indians 68-14.
"Obviously I'm very pleased with our game against Hallsville," California Head Coach Marty Albertson said. "We came out focus and took them out of the game early. We scored 21 points in the first quarter to get them off of their game plan. Our special teams had some good returns. In all phases of the game, I was pleased."
Hallsville's opening drive set the tone for the night when the third play resulted in an interception by California's Landon Mouse to end the series. Just two plays later, Jaden Barr hit Drew Norton with a short pass for a 5-yard TD. After Jose Magana's kick for the point after, the Pintos led 7-0 with 10:41 left in the first quarter.
The Indians came up empty on their next drive, and California's Drew Norton returned Austin Cochran's punt for a 73-yard TD. After Magana's PAT, California led 14-0 with 7:42 left in the first quarter.
The Pintos went on to score on all but two possessions.
Barr hit Drew Norton with a 43-yard TD with 5:00 left in the first quarter to move California's lead to 21-0. Norton returned another punt for a TD with 1:00 left in the first quarter, however, the score was negated by a penalty.
The Indians got into the scoring action with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter when Joey Forge hit Kyle Borland with a 27-yard TD pass. Austin Cochran scored the PAT and Hallsville trailed 21-7.
In the second quarter, Walker Borghardt scored three TDs for California, one on a 6-yard run, a 91-yard run, and a 19-yard run, which was preceded with an interception by Drew Norton to set up the TD. Barr had a 15-yard TD, and a 6-yard TD pass to Dylan Norton to put California's lead at 54-7 at the half.
In the third quarter, Skyler Creed ran in a 33-yard TD on the second play of Hallsville's only series of the frame. Cochran scored the point after and the Indians trailed 54-14 with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter.
In the final quarter, Sam Kirby scored two TDs for California. He ran in a 1-yard TD at the 11:03 mark, and scored on a 5-yard run at the 6:24 mark.
Magana ended the night scoring on eight of nine extra points for California.
The Pintos ended up with 42 carries for 357 yards, and Barr completed 8 of 9 passes for a total of 131 yards, including three TDs, for a total of 488 yards of offense.
Borghardt led California rushing with 174 yards from 10 carries, including three TDs. Gunner Baquet had six carries for 49 yards, Dylan Ratcliff had five carries for 34 yards, and Allan Burger had five for 33 yards.
Drew Norton had four receptions for 71 yards, including two TDs, Kade McAdams had two receptions for 23 yards, Burger had one for 31 yards, and Dylan Norton had one reception for a 6-yard TD.
Burger led California tackles with eight. Nathan Squires had five, and Brent Alber had four. Mouse had two tackles and one interception, and Drew Norton had two tackles and one interception.
Hallsville had 16 carries for 12 yards, and Joey Forge completed 7 of 23 passes for 128 yards, for a total of 140 yards of offense.
Albertson said, "Right now, I think we're where we need to be. We're getting better every game, which is our goal. The kids executed well in the last three games. We should be a pretty good football team by the end of the season."
California (5-0, state-ranked #2 in Class 3) will host Southern Boone at 7 p.m. Friday at Riley Field.
"Ashland hasn't won yet, but they've played a lot of close games," Albertson said. "They're better than they've been in the past. We can't take any team lightly. Our philosophy has always been to focus on one game at a time, so right now we're thinking about winning Friday's game against Southern Boone."