ELDON - While the Eldon Mustangs are trying to do what four other schools have been forced to do this season - bounce back from a drubbing by unbeaten Blair Oaks - the California Pintos are just trying to find the end zone.
It's been a while for the Pintos.
Winless California holds its Homecoming game tonight against Eldon in Tri-County Conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Eldon fell to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in Tri-County play by falling to Blair Oaks 49-6 last week. California dropped to 0-5 and 0-3 by falling to Versailles 38-0.
The Pintos have suffered back-to-back shutout defeats and have been outscored 81-0 during that span.
Both teams enter the game with question marks under center.
California was without regular quarterback Alex Currens last week due to a wrist injury suffered two weeks ago. Freshman Calen Kruger served as the Pinto quarterback against Versailles but between them went 0-for-6 in passing and was sacked four times.
Eldon head coach Chad Hult isn't sure who the Mustangs will see tonight.
Hult has his own problems in the backfield, as senior quarterback Dawson Brandt is out with a knee injury. Brandt missed last week's game and according to Hult may be out a couple more weeks with the injury. Starting in his place is junior Collin Tamm.
"He's an extremely smart kid and can still run our offense," Hult said of Tamm. "He's just not as athletic (as Brandt). He came in and played well. He made some first-game starter mistakes, but overall it was a positive experience for him."
And Tamm had the additional pressure of performing against the unbeaten Blair Oaks Falcons. "It's typical Blair Oaks," Hult said. "They may be even more improved. They're extremely physical and lived up to the hype."
The fact California's quarterback status is uncertain makes game prep a little more difficult for the Mustangs.
"We know they play extremely hard," Hult said. "And there is a little bit of unknown. They completely switched their offense up some, making preparation harder. They went to more of a short game; spread stuff. They've played three different quarterbacks. Currens and Oliver are the running quarterbacks and Kruger is more of a throwing quarterback. They had some success at times. But like us they struggled in sustaining drives.
"Defensively they've kind of switched up a little each week, too. They've played very hard."
After starting the season 3-0 the Mustangs have dropped their last two games, scoring just one touchdown in each contest. And in its last three games, Eldon has totaled just three touchdowns.
The problem for Eldon has been turnovers.
"Last week we had three turnovers and they blocked a punt," Hult said. "It's something we traditionally don't do. We went 3-0 and weren't doing it. It's something we've got to get fixed."
Brandt leaves a big hole in both the Mustang offensive backfield and defensive secondary. He has rushed for a team-high 467 yards and four touchdowns while passing for 158 yards and a score. Defensively he has a team-high 32 tackles and three interceptions.
Tamm hit 2-of-3 passes for 11 yards last week.
Senior fullback Isaiah Parsons becomes the vocal point of the Eldon wing-T offense, having rushed for 438 yards on 85 carries and six touchdowns. Running back Logan Hall has 273 rushing yards on 57 carries and has caught six passes for 88 yards and a TD.
Parsons, a linebacker, has 29 tackles to pace Eldon, while junior lineman Kaden Dillon has 28.