FAIR GROVE In its late-season string of lopsided losses, California always seemed to be doomed by that one bad quarter.
In the Pintos' 59-24 loss to Fair Grove in the Class 2 District 4 opener, it was an ill-fated first quarter that sealed the end of their season.
"It was kind of like a broken record," California coach Marty Albertson said. "It was the same thing we've done all year long. We didn't put four quarters together all year."
Fair Grove opened the game with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Dalton Cloyd, the first of five Eagles scores in the frame.
Trailing 33-6 after one, California had little chance to make it a game thereafter, despite scoring one touchdown in every quarter of play.
Cloyd put Fair Grove up two scores with a 36-yard touchdown run. The senior would cap off his night with a 65-yarder in the third quarter as well to give himself a game-high 145 yards and three total touchdowns.
Fair Grove had two other early rushing scores as Brayden Lumley and Austin Fodge each punched in touchdowns to add to the fast start for the Eagles.
Fodge finished with 81 yards on the ground on a team-leading 11 carries while Lumley had 58 rushing yards and scored twice from a pair of quarterback keepers.
Lumley also added a touchdown pass when he found Steven Huskey for a 36-yard strike early in the third.
The Eagles rotated quarterbacks, switching between Lumley and Jayden Kensinger every other series. Kensinger was as efficient as it gets through the air, going 4-of-4 for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Both Kensinger touchdown throws came on long completions to Isaac Mauldin, who was Fair Grove's leading receiver with 129 yards on three catches.
The Pintos compounded their brutal first frame defensively with a pair of early turnovers, each time setting Fair Grove up with a short field.
In total, California had five giveaways in the loss, another issue that plagued the team throughout its 2-8 season.
California was able to move the ball in spurts, particularly on the ground. Cory Friedmeyer put the Pintos on the board late in the first when he scored on a 2-yard run that came immediately following a long kick return by Kyle Hofstetter.
Senior Gunner Baquet was California's leading rusher with 110 yards, most of which came on a 73-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.
"We've always known Gunner could run the football," Albertson said. "He just had a hard time hanging on to the football because he had a broken finger in the first game.
"But as it healed, he's gotten better every week and he did a great job tonight."
Pintos quarterback Jacob Wolken also had a rush touchdown, scoring on a 17-yard keeper early in the second frame. Wolken finished the game with 75 yards on 12 carries.
Through the air, the junior was 7-of-17 for 85 yards for a score with two picks. His touchdown pass came on California's opening drive of the second half when he hit Dylan Kramel on a 38-yard catch-and-run.
The late touchdowns by Kramel and Baquet were a fitting way for the seniors to go out. Despite this being a tough year for the Pintos, the team rarely showed any quit.
"It was a tough year," Albertson said. "When you get devastated with injuries like we did, it's pretty tough to be consistent and stay consistent."
While the injury bug was a prominent issue for California all season, it did open the door for several sophomores to get varsity action. With more than half of their starters returning, California has the pieces to get back on track next fall.
"The young kids that got experience tonight are only going to get better," Albertson said. "They got a taste of it tonight and you can't replicate that."