California prepares for 1-2 Orchard Farm punch

There's no secret what the Orchard Farm football team wants to do on offense.

And there's even less of a surprise who the Eagles want to do it with.

When California plays host to the Eagles at 7 p.m. today at Riley Field in a Class 3 quarterfinal contest, the Pintos know what they need to do to secure a victory.

"They've got a really good running back who's got over 2,000 yards, he's going to be a load to stop," California head coach Marty Albertson said. "And their quarterback has over 1,000 yards. Those two guys are the ones you have to stop."

"Those two guys" are senior running back running back Armand Keely and senior quarterback Tyler Westerfield. Keely has racked up 2,113 yards rushing on 269 attempts (7.9 avg.) with 30 touchdowns, while Westerfield has rushed for 963 yards on 89 carries (10.8 avg.) with 12 touchdowns.

How important are the 1 and 2 in their 1-2 punch? Keely and Westerfield have 358 combined carries to dwarf the rest of the roster, which has combined for just 61 additional attempts.

"They're hard to bring down," Albertson said. "They're both around 200 pounds and they run with good strength. We'll have to put more than one guy on them to tackle them."

The Eagles like to operate out of the pistol formation, with Keely (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) setting up about 7 yards deep.

"The quarterback will give it to (Keely), and he'll wait back there and see where the hole is," Albertson said. "He's a great cutback runner, he'll take off one way and end up going back the other way. He's quick and he's a good-sized kid.

"About the time you get to stopping him, the quarterback will fake to him and go the other way. He's a good runner also."

Westerfield (6-1, 195) is a decent passer, as he's 54-of-114 for 764 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

"They're predominantly run-oriented, but they will throw and (Westerfield) does have an above-average arm," Albertson said. "But obviously they like to run."

When the unranked Eagles (10-2) do go to the air, Westerfield's favorite target is Cole Klein (6-1, 170, soph.), who has 20 catches for 372 yards and seven touchdowns.

"(Klein) has got decent speed, so you can't fall asleep and let him get behind you," Albertson said.

He added the Pintos' defensive front matches up well with the Eagles' offensive line.

"They're not an overly huge team," he said. "Their two running threats are decent-sized guys, but other than that, their linemen are in the 235-pound range. So nothing overly big, but decent-sized."

If California (12-0, ranked second) is to be successful on defense, it's going to come down to being sound in its execution.

"We've got some film on them, so we know what they like to do, and now we just have to figure out a way to stop that," Albertson said.

When the Eagles are on defense, operating out of a 4-3 front, the same two guys are the key to success.

"It's kind of a weird scenario to have your quarterback playing middle linebacker, and their tailback plays one of the outside linebackers," Albertson said. "Those are the two kids you have to stop on offense, and they're the two kids on defense who try to stop you."

Westerfield leads team with 99 tackles (60 solos and 39 assists), including four sacks, and has three interceptions. Keely, meanwhile, has 80 tackles (48 solos and 32 assists). Defensive end Sam Wallut (6-3, 210, sr.) adds 64 tackles (35 solos and 29 assists), including nine sacks and a hard-to-believe 27 tackles for loss.

Orchard Farm has never been this far in the playoffs. The Eagles' deepest trip before this was a loss in the Class 2A round of 16 in 1997. They have lost in the district semifinals, or round of 32, each of the last three seasons.

California, meanwhile, is looking to make its third straight appearance in the semifinals with a victory. The Pintos have lost to eventual state champion Maryville each of the past two seasons.

The winner of today's game will play the winner of top-ranked Maryville (12-0) and 10th-ranked Oak Grove (10-2) in the semifinals. California would be on the road either way, while Orchard Farm would host Oak Grove or play at Maryville.

Albertson said last week's 32-30 win against Blair Oaks was a good game to prepare the Pintos for this week.

"It was a great game - both teams played well and battled," he said. "It was a great one to give the kids confidence that they can come back from a deficit, being down nine at halftime. ... The kids really dug deep in the second half and battled, and that's what it takes in the playoffs.

"I know this week will be a battle, too, but it's a different scenario. They have two good backs, but (Orchard Farm's) passing game is not as good as Blair Oaks.

"And I don't think their team speed overall is near as good as Blair Oaks. Blair Oaks matched up well with us, their team speed is just as good, or better, as ours. Usually that's our advantage, and I think it will be this week. ... And I don't think (Orchard Farm's) line play is as good as what we saw last Friday."

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