California to take on defending champ Lamar

California quarterback Bryant Davis looks for an open receiver downfield during a game against the Blair Oaks Falcons earlier this season in Wardsville.

CALIFORNIA, Mo. - The California Pintos have a tough task in front of them as they take on six-time defending Class 2 state champion Lamar in the first round of the Class 2 District 4 playoffs in a road contest tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Head coach Mikel Gragg said the coaches are continuing the idea there is no pressure on their team and all of the pressure is on their opponents as the Pintos head into a matchup against the No. 1 district seed.

"Like we have been telling the kids, it is a measuring stick of how good this team really is," Gragg said. "No matter the score no matter what it is; go out play your hardest and just see how good we really are and how hard we can play."

Gragg really wants to see his team continue to improve during the game.

When it comes to facing Lamar's offense, Gragg said he wants his team to shut down the run as best as they can and force Lamar to throw the ball more.

"In the film we've seen, they've thrown the ball three times, so they aren't really going to throw the football," Gragg said. "If we can force them to pass and they have to throw the football to beat us then we consider that a success."

While the Pintos did not lose any more players in injury in their last game, none of the injured players will be healthy enough to return for this game.

California may have trouble with Lamar's impressive defense, as Gragg noted they are big and well coached.

"They (Lamar's defense) are big," Gragg said. "Lamar's defense is really well coached, they fly to the football well, and they do a lot of things very well and you can't confuse them."

Gragg said a key for any success on offense will be to get in short yard situations on second and third down.

Lamar (8-0), which won its third consecutive Big 8 Conference championship this season, has held down the No. 1 spot in each of the Missouri Media Rankings this season.

The California-Lamar winner will face the Warsaw-Cole Camp winner next Friday in the district semifinals.