MEXICO, Mo. - Despite being shut out 35-0 and producing fewer yards on offense than the week prior, California head coach Marty Albertson believes his team got better.
They just simply played a better team this week in the Mexico Bulldogs.
"No one wants to lose, and I know they don't want to lose," Albertson said. "We've just got to keep improving each week. With a young team, you can't let them get down on themselves."
Three costly turnovers in the first half hurt California's chances because Mexico's rushing attack moved the ball well all game. The Bulldogs rushed 42 times for 345 yards, an average of 8.2 yards per carry.
While giving up a lot of yards on the ground, the Pintos' defense largely played well. But Mexico was able to gain double-digit yards on third-and-long and fourth-and-long situations to keep drives alive.
"I think it's a lot of assignment mistakes," Albertson said. "(Defensive coordinator Jason Becker) had a good game plan. But if the kids don't execute all of the time, they'll break a long one."
After California held Mexico on fourth down on its first drive, the Bulldogs had their most complete drive on their next possession. Mexico used a three-headed rushing attack to gain 10 yards or more four times during a seven-play sequence.
Karsten Ekern ran for 10 yards on back-to-back plays, then Kellen Ekern gained 9 and 10 yards on the next two runs. D'Millo Nunnelly got in on the action, rushing for 12 yards, and Karsten Ekern finished things off with two 6-yard runs, the latter being for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead.
On the third Mexico drive, the Bulldogs had two consecutive false starts, then California's Jacob Adams sacked Spencer Thomas. On third-and-23, Thomas rushed for 9 yards, then Karsten Ekern gained 16 yards on fourth-and-14 to keep the drive moving.
Mexico eventually punched it in from the 3-yard line to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.
On California's next possession, the Pintos were having one their most successful drives of the game. But that ended when Deion Wayman intercepted Jacob Wolken's pass that tipped off Landon Mouse's hands. Wayman returned it 56 yards to set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Karsten Ekern to push the Bulldog lead to 22-0.
Karsten Ekern rushed for 166 yards on 19 attempts and two touchdowns.
In the third quarter, Mexico faced a third-and-seven and Thomas scrambled for an 11-yard gain to move the chains. After Karsten Ekern ran for 29 yards on the next play, Nunnelly scored from the 10-yard line to give the Bulldogs a 28-0 lead.
The Bulldogs finished off their scoring late in the third quarter, when Michael White scored from 6 yards out. Two plays prior, Avion Williams broke free for a 42-yard gain on a third-and-18.
"Truthfully, I thought we improved from last week," Albertson said. "Obviously, we played a lot better of a team this week. We made three mistakes in the first half that killed us. You know, we have to cut them out. In the second half, we played pretty well."
California (0-2) will host Versailles (1-1) at 7 p.m. Friday for its home and Tri-County Conference opener.