CALIFORNIA, Mo. - The California Pintos are heading into their game against School of the Osage with hopes of ending the regular season with a victory.
There is some extra motivation for the team to win their last regular season game for the seniors on the squad, coach Mikel Gragg said.
"This is the seniors' last regular-season game," Gragg said. "We want to go out and give the seniors our best effort and send their regular season off with a win."
Bryant Davis, a freshman, will make his third straight start at quarterback for the Pintos (1-7).
"He keeps developing every week and getting better," Gragg said.
California is coming into the game with the same mindset as it did last week against Blair Oaks, that being that all the pressure is on their opponents and not them."The message we are sending to our kids is once again there is no pressure on us. Go out and have fun and play loose," Gragg said.
California dropped a 44-6 decision to Blair Oaks, the No. 2 team in Class 3 in the latest Missouri Media Rankings, in Wardsville.
Pintos running back Cory Friedmeyer had 88 yards on 17 carries to pace the California offense.
The team is pretty banged up as they have lost more than eight starters since the start of the season.
Going into their game against the Indians, the Pintos are looking for their defense to stop their opponent's passing game.
"They like to throw the football," he said. "Being in coverage is the main thing."
Osage quarterback Zach Wheeler leads the area with 1,509 yards through the air and 19 touchdowns this season. The Indians (4-4) are averaging nearly 25 passes per game.
Drake Gaines is Wheeler's top target with 36 catches for 576 yards and seven touchdowns.
Dalton Depee is next with 35 catches for 452 yards and six scores for the Indians
The Pintos will not see Nick Riley tonight as the Indians' leading rusher will miss the game due to an injury. Riley had rushed for 592 yards (6.6 avg.) and eight touchdowns.
Osage linebacker Austin Magnuson leads the area with 119 total tackles (78 solo) this season.
The Indians are averaging a little more than 30 points per game while allowing just under 28 per contest.
California is eighth in the Class 2 District 4 standings. If the season ended today, the Pintos would open the postseason at top-ranked Lamar next Friday night.
Osage, riding a two-game losing streak after a 49-13 loss at Eldon last Friday night, sits sixth in the latest Class 3 Distict 3 standings. The Indians could move up one spot with a win tonight and a loss by fifth-seeded Logan-Rogersville to Buffalo.
Game time is 7 p.m.
Related media:
California Pintos Football Podcast [School of the Osage preview, Oct. 13, 2017]