California prepares for Fulton to wrap up non-conference play

California's Calen Kruger heads to the end zone for one of his three rushing touchdowns last Friday in the Pintos' 61-21 win against Clinton at Clinton.
California's Calen Kruger heads to the end zone for one of his three rushing touchdowns last Friday in the Pintos' 61-21 win against Clinton at Clinton.

CALIFORNIA - After a rather convincing 61-21 win last Friday against the Clinton Cardinals, the California Pintos are looking to win two in a row as they get ready to face the Fulton Hornets.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. tonight in Fulton.

Last Friday's win was the first for California (1-0) in a season opener since 2014. A win tonight would give the Pintos their first 2-0 start in six years as well.

The Hornets (0-1) are coming off a 63-36 loss to School of the Osage.

California coach Derek Scroggins said if the team wants to keep the success going, it needs to tighten some things up.

"We definitely made our fair share of mistakes in the game even though the outcome was in our favor," he said. "So we just need to keep tightening things up and getting better and not be satisfied with what we have done so far."

When it comes to Fulton, the Pintos are going to have to be ready for the speed the Hornets possess.

"They have a lot of team speed," Scroggins said. "They seem well-coached and we expect them to come out fired up and ready to play."

Scroggins said the final score of Fulton's game last week does not represent how Fulton played in the first half.

"I know that they had two of their two-way starters out for that game because they were being quarantined, I believe, or they were not able to play. So we are ready for those guys," Scroggins said. "(Fulton) ran into some issues in the second half because some of their kids cramped up, and at halftime it was a one point game and in the second half they just kind of ran out of some steam."

The Pintos are going to have to win their individual matchups and focus on what they have to do.

"Each one of our kids have to win their individual battle play in and play out," Scroggins said. "Instead of focusing on what Fulton might do or might not do, we are just going to focus on what we do and what we need to do to get better on a day-to-day basis and make sure we come ready to play on Friday."

When it comes to facing Fulton's offense, Scroggins said the Hornets' rely a lot on their quarterback, Courtland Simmons.

"They try to utilize their quarterback's speed and get him out in the open. Or they will run the ball 50 percent of the time and he will try to throw it the other 50 percent," Scroggins said. "They rely pretty heavily on him."

Scroggins said he expects Fulton's defense to bring a lot of pressure.

"I expect them to bring a lot of pressure and to be as fast and disruptive as possible," Scroggins said. "So offensively we have to make sure that we are disciplined and that we execute."