A lot on the line for Blair Oaks, California

In game tonight

It's the only way this game could possibly add any more intrigue.

Blair Oaks at California

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For years, the regular-season matchup between the Blair Oaks Falcons and California Pintos was one of those can't-miss contests, a date that got circled on the calendar the minute the schedule came out.

Now, the game has an added layer of importance.

That's because, for the first time, it will have postseason implications.

With the Falcons moving up to Class 3 this year and into the same district as the Pintos, the contest will go a long way toward district seeding. So not only will it play a large part in determining the Tri-County Conference title, it will also help decide the No. 1 seed in districts.

"There's a little extra this time, because it goes not only toward conference, but also districts," California coach Marty Albertson said. "Having that No. 1 seed is important when it comes down to the playoffs, because then if you make it to the (district) finals, you get to be the host instead of going away."

Blair Oaks coach Brad Drehle expects an electric atmosphere for the 7 p.m. game at California's new Riley Field.

"The kids will be fired up, it will be fun over there," he said. "You're going to see two football teams that are very motivated that will play fast and physical.

"You hear all the stuff about the rivalry, but when you get right down to it, their kids and people are just like our kids and people. They're very passionate about what they do, they work extremely hard and they're proud of their program.

"You've got two programs that will line up and play their tails off and when the game is done, we'll shake hands and move on."

Drehle added even though the teams could meet later on in districts, it doesn't mean the Falcons will hold anything in reserve in this meeting.

"You've to turn it loose and play," he said. "At this time of year, there's nothing you hold back. You go get at it and whatever happens, happens. Then you line up and play the next one."

Adding another layer of intrigue to the game between the Pintos (6-0 overall, 4-0 conference) and Falcons (5-1, 3-1) is the fact it's California's Homecoming game.

"There's always a lot of things going on, and we try to impress on our kids to keep focused on football and let the other kids do most of the other things that are going on," Albertson said. "Hopefully they can do that. Obviously this is going to be the biggest game of the year, so we'll need total focus to have a good result."

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THE GAME ALSO has state-level connotations, California comes into the game ranked second in Class 3, while Blair Oaks is seventh.

Drehle said there's a reason why the Pintos are ranked so high, starting with three senior skill players on offense - quarterback Jaden Barr, running back Walker Borghardt and wide receiver Drew Norton.

"Barr, Borghardt and Norton are obviously their weapons - they flat get things done," Drehle said. "Over and over and over you see those kids make big plays.

"Borghardt obviously is the speedster, he can break a game open. Barr does it by making great decisions - he's a tremendous athlete playing quarterback."

Two other seniors, Nathan Squires (6-foot-2, 255 pounds) and Zach Cummings (6-1, 225) make an impact with their line play.

"Squires, he's a man," Drehle said. "When you turn on the film and you notice an offensive lineman, you know he's a heck of a player, because he's getting things done.

"He and Cummings are tremendous football players. We've got to meet their intensity, because if you don't, you're in trouble. When those two kids get together, there's 500 pounds of humanity coming down on you. You've got to be ready to go."

Those names also get mentioned a lot when it concerns the California defense, which has given up a paltry 35 points in six games.

"They look like California (typically does) - they're fast and physical," Drehle said. "They fly to the football, they do a great job tackling, they're physical at the line of scrimmage. That's how they make their money, and they're doing it again."

Squires draws a lot of attention at linebacker, and senior defensive tackle Ramiro Garcia (5-10, 230) is another cause for concern.

"Garcia is a big, physical kid," Drehle said. "He's looking to lay big hits when he gets the chance. He's bigger than anybody we've got, and that's a concern."

The combination of their offense and defense make the Pintos very dangerous.

"It's about being efficient, and they're very efficient in everything they do," Drehle said. "They don't make a lot of mistakes and they play great field positioning.

"You watch film and the thing you notice real quick is they're constantly in their opponent's end of the field. When you don't mistakes and you put points on the board, the pressure mounts for your opponent, and that's what they do. They just keep coming and coming and coming."

That means the Falcons are going to have to be opportunistic.

"It boils down to who's going to make the plays when they have the opportunity," Drehle said. "There are going to be opportunities for both of us to make big plays, and the team that makes them is going to come away with a win. It may be on special teams, or it may be a tackle on a play that was going to go and you keep points off the board.

"Those big plays can come in a lot of different places. It boils down to us being able to do that."

III

THE PINTOS HAVEN'T missed a beat after losing a talented senior class from last year's team. They've definitely reloaded.

"We've got a good group of seniors," Albertson said. "We have 14 of them and they've been on those teams the last two years when we went 13-1 and 12-2 and lost in the (state semifinals) both years. So they know what it takes to get there and they've worked hard.

"We did lose a lot of good players last year, but we have a lot of good ones that are filling their shoes this year."

And this year's team has forged its own identity. Gone are the days of run, run, run, and then run some more.

"We've changed our offense a little bit," Albertson said. "We were more of a power, double-wing team last year and this year we're running more split-back stuff with a couple more receivers in the game.

"We've got a quarterback who's in his third year of starting, so he's able to read a lot more and do more things on the field as a senior. And our receivers are a year older, so they're doing some good things as well. Our passing game is a little better than it's been in the past, so that helps open up the run, also."

Drehle said the Pintos are still running about 65 percent of the time, but making the most of that other 35 percent.

"When they throw, they get things done," he said. "When you throw and you make big plays, you don't have to throw a bunch. It's the production."

On the other side of the ball, the Pintos are holding opponents to a paltry 125 yards per game.

"The defense has played well all year long," Albertson said. "(Assistant coach Geary Labuary) is doing a good job with our defense. That's important. Like the old saying goes, offense sells the tickets, but defense wins you championships. That's not too far off.

"... We've been putting up some numbers (on offense), but our defense has been holding people down as well. You can't go unless you have a good defense. So we feel good on both sides of the ball. And our special teams have been doing a good job, too. That's one aspect that gets overlooked, but we've been doing a good job with that as well."

III

DREHLE SAID IT'S easy to get caught up in the drama of tonight, but the Falcons should also be looking down the road.

"We're looking for improvement this week," he said. "We obviously want to win the football game and we're going to do everything we can to get it done. Our kids are going to play hard, you're going to see them fired up and flying around and doing great things.

"But our focus is on getting better. We're looking to get better every week so we're in a position at the end (of the season) to still be in the conversation.

"This game is a big one, it's great for the fans, it's great for us, it's great timing for both of us to be tested this way. But in the grand scheme of things, it's not the most important thing. The most important thing is for us to improve."

III

NOTES: California leads the all-time series 22-17. It's been a series of streaks lately, with the Falcons taking 11 of the last 12 meetings after the Pintos had won 19 of 21. ... Running back Dominic Jamerson is still the second-leading rusher on Blair Oaks despite not having a carry since the first quarter of the third game of the season. The senior, who has been dogged by a nagging hamstring injury, has 222 yards on just nine carries. ... The Falcons are outscoring opponents 181-41 in the first three quarters of games. The edge gets even greater when you narrow it down to the second and third quarters, as Blair Oaks has a 127-3 scoring advantage in those periods.

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