CALIFORNIA - The California Pintos are still looking for their first win as they get ready to face the Hallsville Indians in Tri-County Conference play.
California (0-6, 0-4 Tri-County) is coming off its best offensive performance of the year during a 46-35 loss to Eldon last week. In the previous five games, the Pintos scored a total of 29 points.
Quarterback Alex Currens threw touchdown passes to four different players: Alex Meisenheimer, Trystan Hees, Clayton Winkler and Dawson Gump. Currens also rushed for a touchdown, giving him five total in the game.
California coach Mikel Gragg said the team is working on its timing when it comes to the long ball, which was a bit of an issue for the Pintos during last Friday's game.
"The work on timing with the quarterback and the receivers, getting his read progression down should really help us," Gragg said.
Heading into this week's game, Gragg said the Pintos can use their passing game to take advantage with Hallsville running a lot of man-to-man defense.
"For us this week it is going to definitely be able to get away from defenders, create some space and catch the football," Gragg said. "We think we can take advantage of those matchups."
On the defensive side of the ball, Gragg said California's defensive line has an advantage against Hallsville's offensive line.California's defense has struggled recently, giving up at least 30 points in each of the past three games.
Gragg said Hallsville (1-5, 1-3 Tri-County) likes to run some jet sweeps, similar to Warrensburg's offense from Week 1, so the Pintos will have to protect their perimeter.
"That is definitely something a focus on this week, is protecting our perimeter runs," Gragg said.
Gragg also said when Hallsville runs to the inside, they tend to looks similar to Mexico's offense California faced in Week 2.
"We have gone back and done some of the same things we did against Mexico for the inside runs because we were very competitive with what we were able to stop there," Gragg said.
In Hallsville's 69-21 loss last Friday to Class 2 No. 2 Blair Oaks, Indians running back Cooper Crane carried the ball 19 yards for 47 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Zane Parnell was 5-of-14 for 57 yards and two interceptions.
Despite the blowout in the final margin, the Indians were ahead 14-0 less than four minutes into the game. BJ Fisher returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, and after Hallsville forced Blair Oaks' offense to go three-and-out, Fisher caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Parnell.
Hallsville's lone win came Sept. 14, a 40-15 decision against School of the Osage.
Related Media: California Pintos Football Podcast [Hallsville preview, Oct. 5, 2018]