The 2015 season was something the California Pintos football program hasn't seen in a couple of seasons, with three-straight seasons with at least 12 wins prior to this season.
But with all the adversity, the Pintos saw many bright spots this season, despite falling in the first round of the district playoffs to Southern Boone. In August, California head coach Marty Albertson knew his team would have some new faces starting and young players would get the chance to make an impact on offense and defense. What Albertson didn't expect was all of the injuries piling up, especially at the running back position.
"We had more injuries this year combined than we did the first fours years I was here total," Albertson said. "Hopefully, we've got those out of the way and don't have to go through that again. If someone would have told me before the season that we were going to have that many injuries and lose that many running backs, I would have said, "oh man, it's going to be a tough year.'"
California lost two senior running backs to injuries in A.J. Kendrick and Dylan Ratcliff, so junior Gunner Baquet saw a lot of action in the second half of the season, and senior tight end Brandan Gump was converted to the position to help spell Baquet. Sophomore Liam Glenn also saw some action at running back.
"It's very hard, especially in the high school situation because you have to force young kids to step up, move those kids around and do those types of things to help fill gaps," Albertson said.
A handful of sophomores saw valuable playing time this season, and that's something that makes Albertson excited for the future.
Sophomore quarterback and linebacker Jacob Wolken was the biggest star, leading his team to a 6-3 record when he started the game. Linebackers Glenn and Jacob Adams made huge impacts on defense, with Adams leading the team in sacks with seven. Kyle Hofstetter was pushed into the starting role at defensive back half way through the season, and was fourth on the team in receiving yards and receptions on offense.
"All of those sophomores stepped up and did a really good job for us," Albertson said. "... "I think there's a bright future in front of these kids, because the sophomores played really well. You have a few juniors there that got some experience this year. Also, the freshman team did really well, only lost one game. They have a good nucleus of young kids to step up next year and push those upper classmen."
Wolken entered the season as the backup quarterback to Senior Landon Mouse, but an injury in the first game of the season forced Albertson to go to his No. 2 guy early - in the second quarter actually. After struggling in his first start against Mexico, Wolken led the team to four-straight wins to help salvage the season and put them on the right path.
"Any time you have a young kids that's thrown into the mix like he was early in the second quarter of the first game, and hadn't planned on probably starting, it's tough on a kid. He's going to be a real good one before he gets done. I saw him progress as the season went on, just got a lot of confidence."
What help Wolken adjust and grow more confidence was how Albertson changed the offense around him. The Pintos started the season wanting to run the football more, with running backs Kendrick and Ratcliff leading the way. But, with Mouse moving to the receiver position and seniors Ethan Hodges and Josh Woodruff already there, Albertson saw the opportunity to move to a spread-attack.
"I found out a long time ago in high school, you have to go with what you've got, because you can't recruit," he said. "Sometimes you're bless with a bunch of running backs and a good offensive line, so you use those talents of those kids. This year we were blessed with receivers and had a lot of running backs hurt early. It kind of forced us to go in that direction."
Albertson is the type of coach that wants to run the ball 50 or 60 percent of the time, but with a smaller offensive line and injuries at running back, he knew it would be hard to win football games like that this season. After a couple of weeks of pass-heavy games, Baquet, Gump and Wolken had three of their better games of the season in the last five games because teams wanted to take away the pass.
Something that high school coaches have to deal with every year is the departure of the senior leaders.
"You lose the nucleus of the team, and the seniors should be the nucleus of your team," Albertson said. This year, the plus we have to look at is that the younger kids had the chance to play, so next year as juniors, they ought to be ready to go."
Three-year starters Mouse and Gump led the team on the defensive side of the ball, and they were in the same position some of the sophomores are in this year. Albertson reiterates that the future of California Pintos football is bright.
"They've been starters for the last three years," Albertson said. "Those kids started when they were sophomores, so that's the type of kids you're going to see when the sophomores this year are going to be seniors. Same type of execution and success for them. We had five or six of them, so that's a good thing we'll see in the future."
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Statistical leaders:
Passing
Jacob Wolken #11 - 94-for-170, 1,689 yards, 17 TDs
Josh Woodruff #9 - 2-for-2, 122 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Jacob Wolken #11 - 93 attempts, 463 yards, 6 TDs,
Gunner Baquet #34 - 61 attempts, 224 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving
Landon Mouse #7 - 43 receptions, 684 yards , 7 TDs
Josh Woodruff #9 - 19 receptions, 457 yards, 5 TDs
Ethan Hodges #85 - 16 receptions, 430 yards, 6 TDs
Kyle Hofstetter #81 - 11 receptions, 157 yards, TD
Tackles
Brandan Gump #36 - 89 tackles
Landon Mouse #7 - 65 tackles
Jacob Wolken #11 - 56 tackles
Hunter Heimericks #53 - 56 tackles
Jacob Adams #84 - 49 tackles
Sacks/Tackles for a loss
Jacob Adams #84 - 7 sacks, 5 TFLs
Jackson Trachsel #56 - 4 sacks
Brandan Gump #36 - 3 TFLs, 3 sacks
Hunter Heimericks #53 - 7 TFLs
Jacob Wolken #11 - 5 TFL
Forced fumbles/Fumble recoveries
Brandon Gump #36 - 3 Fumble recoveries (1 TD)
Jacob Wolken #11 - 3 Fumble recoveries
Landon Mouse #7 - 2 Fumble recoveries
Interceptions
Josh Woodruff #7 - 3 Interceptions (1 TD)
Landon Mouse #7 - 2 Interceptions (1 TD)
Gunner Baquet #34 - 2 Interceptions