BOONVILLE - The Pintos opened up their season in Boonville Friday night, falling 9-6 to the Pirates, off a last-minute touchdown.
California's defense made timely stops deep in its own territory on four different occasions in the game, but allowed a field goal just before halftime, then the last-minute touchdown in the fourth quarter.
"I thought it was a heck of a high school football game," head coach Marty Albertson said. "I thought our kids played hard, you know, we just made a few mistakes."
On the opening drive of the game, Boonville started on its own 13-yard line and moved the ball 85 yards on nine plays to the California two-yard line. Quarterback Nick Zeitlow and wide receiver Makiah Waibel hooked up for a fourth-and-seven, 31-yard gain to keep the drive alive.
But on first-and-goal from the two-yard line, running back Jordan Weaver fumbled at the goal line and California's Dylan Ratcliff recovered in the endzone for a touch-back.
"I thought we gave up some yards early, but (the defense) stiffened," Albertson said. "They did a pretty good job down the stretch, and made plays when they had to. I think they'll improve as we go."
The Pintos' offense couldn't get anything going on their first two drives, gaining one first down.
At the end of the first quarter, Boonville put together another long drive, getting the ball to the Pinto 24-yard line. But California was able to hold the Pirates' offense to another trip down the field with zero points, stopping Boonville on a fourth-and-nine.
In the second quarter, quarterback Landon Mouse suffered a leg injury, forcing him to sit out on offense, but not his free safety position on defense.
"He's a gamer and he's our leader," Albertson said. "He just didn't have any mobility at quarterback, that's why we went with (sophomore Jacob Wolken) that early. (Mouse) showed his true leadership. We would have had to drag him out of there on defense, he wouldn't come out."
Albertson said after the jamboree that Wolken will see action at quarterback in games throughout the season to give Mouse a break. With the injury, he was pushed into the game more quickly than Albertson thought.
"(Wolken) moved the football a few times and got some first downs when we needed it," Albertson said. "It's tough when you put a kid in there for the first time in the heat of battle when he's a sophomore."
On his first drive, Wolken moved the offense to Boonville's 29-yard line. He rushed the ball twice for 12 yards, collecting first downs on both carries. Then on a second-and-nine, Wolken fumbled while running an option play. It was the first of two fumbles in the game from an option play.
"Well Jacob (Wolken), he's probably not feeling good right now, but I thought he did some good things," Albertson said. "I thought he really did."
After the second fumble, the Pirates put together a 10-play, 37-yard drive in the final two minutes of the first half to set up a 31-yard field goal to give Boonville a 3-0 lead.
California received the ball to open up the second half, but Wolken was intercepted on the Pintos' 49-yard line to set up Boonville for another opportunity to put points on the board. But the California defense stepped up again, holding the Pirates on fourth down on California's 14-yard line.
On the next Boonville drive, California forced another fourth down with Boonville appearing to go for it again on the California 41-yard line. The snap when over the head of Zeitlow and when he recovered, he attempted to punt the ball away, but whiffed. Brandan Gump was there to pick the ball up and run for the 52-yard touchdown.
The score gave the Pintos a 6-3 lead after a botched extra point attempt.
"We put a lot of time in on special teams, and obviously it paid off and gave us the lead," Albertson said.
Gump also recorded eight tackles on defense.
Following the touchdown, Boonville marched down the field again, converting three third downs. After a defensive personal foul put the ball on the California 25-yard line, Gunner Baquet intercepted a pass after Mouse deflected it. Baquet returned it 38 yards to their own 46-yard line.
Then, California was held to a three-and-out and failed to convert a fake punt to give Boonville the ball near midfield. The Pirates then went three-and-out, to punt the ball back to the Pintos with 6:39 left in the game. California wasn't able to run out the clock, giving the ball back to Boonville with two minutes left in the game.
It appeared that California stopped Boonville's drive, as Hunter Heimericks tackled Weaver on third down to force fourth down. On a fourth-and-four, the Pirates converted a 40-yard pass from Zeitlow to Kole Ficken to set Boonville up with a first-and-10 on the California 20-yard line.
With 31 seconds left on the clock, Zeitlow connected with Waibel for the 8-yard game-winning touchdown over the middle of the field.
A.J. Kendrick led the Pintos on offense with 46 rushing yards on nine attempts. California gained only 101 yards of total offense.
The Pintos (0-1) travel to Mexico (1-0) Friday at 7 p.m.