WARDSVILLE - Leading up to Friday night's Jamboree at the Falcon Athletic Complex, California head coach Marty Albertson knew he'd see mistakes on both sides of the ball.
After all, the Pintos are replacing 10 starters on offense, and eight on defense.
"We made a lot of mistakes, but I knew we would because we're young," Albertson said. "But they're all correctable mistakes, so that's a good thing."
In the first scrimmage against Owensville, California scored one touchdown with its first-team offense. Landon Mouse connected with Sam Cummings on the fourth play of the day for a 32-yard score.
Neither the first- or second-team defense allowed a touchdown to the Dutchmen.
Against Moberly, the Pintos' second team scored their only touchdown, while the Spartans scored twice. Jacob Wolken completed a 23-yard pass to set up Aaron Kendrick's 8-yard touchdown run during the Pintos' second possession.
Turnovers were the highlights of the games for California, as the defense forced three in its two scrimmages.
Grant Hofstetter recovered a fumble early in the first scrimmage, and Kyle Hofstetter intercepted an Owensville pass later in the game. On Moberly's second possession, Wolken forced a sack-fumble and Hunter Heimericks recovered.
"I think we'll get those during the year because our kids are quick," Albertson said. "As long as we don't turn the ball over, and we get them, that's always a big plus."
But with the successes come the mistakes.
Albertson noted missed assignments on the offensive line and blown coverages on defense.
"When we're running the outside veer, we have a read guy," he said. "Some times we blocked the read guy when we should have been letting them go, and some times we let two guys go.
"We missed some assignments (on defense) also. It's a learning process there, and we have to hopefully get ready by next Friday."
The Pintos defense allowed an 8-yard passing touchdown over the middle on the first possession of the second game, and a 39-yard rush during the second drive.
Against Owensville, the Dutchmen gained 19 yards on their first play of the day, but the Pintos defense didn't allow them to score the rest of the drive.
More on the Friday night's jamboree in Wednesday's California Democrat