California's Wolken scores five times in win over School of the Osage

LAKE OZARK, Mo. - After dropping its first conference game last week to Blair Oaks, California rebounded Friday night with a 41-21 win against School of the Osage.

Sophomore quarterback Jacob Wolken totaled five touchdowns on the night, three on the ground and two in the air.

The Pintos took an 8-0 lead on their first drive of the game, moving the ball 58 yards on 10 plays. Wolken's passes to Josh Woodruff for 16 yards and Landon Mouse for 17 yards set up a first-and-goal from the 10-yard line. Wolken used a quarterback sneak around the right side to score the touchdown.

On their next possession, Wolken found Ethan Hodges in the middle of the field for a short completion. Hodges quickly separated himself from the defenders, sprinting to the end zone for the 56-yard touchdown to give the Pintos a 14-0 lead.

The offense didn't stop there, though. Brandan Gump broke free up the middle for a 71-yard rushing score that gave California a 22-0 lead after the 2-point conversion.

That capped off three-straight scoring drives to start the game for California (5-3, 5-1 Tri-County Conference).

Osage cut the deficit to 22-7 after Dylan Riley rushed for 52 yards and the score, but midway through the second quarter, Indians' Zach Wheeler was intercepted by Gunner Baquet to set the Pintos up at the Osage 24-yard line.

On third-and-4, Wolken rushed for a gain of 17 to the 1-yard line. He pushed forward on a quarterback sneak on the next play to extend the lead to 29-7.

Osage made it 29-14 just before halftime, and that was closest the Indians got to the Pintos.

Wolken found Mouse in the third quarter for a 21-yard touchdown pass that gave California a 35-14 lead, then Wolken scored on an 8-yard rush to push the lead to 41-14.

Osage (3-5, 2-4) added a late touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, as Britten Mclaughlin hauled in a 55-yard touchdown reception.