Blair Oaks downs California to claim share of conference

WARDSVILLE, Mo. - The Blair Oaks Falcons have dominated opponents on nearly every statistic this season, with the exception of one: turnover margin.

Entering Friday night's game against the California Pintos, the Falcons were at minus-1. After the game, they were plus-3.

Blair Oaks recorded a season-high six takeaways in a 44-6 win against the Pintos on Senior Night at the Falcon Athletic Complex. The Falcons are one of five remaining undefeated teams in Class 3.

The win also clinched Blair Oaks at least a share of the Tri-County Conference championship for a third straight season.

"It's a credit to the kids," Blair Oaks coach Terry Walker said. "The kids do all the work, we just try to funnel all their efforts into the right direction. The kids have done a great job of coming out, practicing and working every single day.

"I can promise you we work them as hard as we possibly can, and the kids have responded."

The six takeaways included three fumble recoveries, which doubled the Falcons' season total.

Linebacker Bryce Kempker, one of 10 Blair Oaks seniors recognized at halftime, had two fumble recoveries, as well as an interception.

"Bryce has really improved over the last three-to-four weeks with his linebacker play," Walker said. "He definitely has more of a nose for the football than what he had at the beginning of the year."

Five of the six takeaways led to Blair Oaks touchdowns, one of which was a defensive score.

Marcus Edler picked off California quarterback Bryant Davis and returned it 20 yards for the Falcons' first defensive touchdown of the season, stretching the lead to 20-6 midway through the second quarter.

"Marcus is a great cover corner," Walker said. "He's got really good cover skills, he's got good ball instincts. He does a good job of keeping his body in position."

Aside from Edler's pick-six, each Blair Oaks takeaway allowed the offense to start in California territory. The Falcons' average field position following a California turnover was at the Pintos' 31-yard line.

"The short fields were a fantastic opportunity for us to put some points on the board," Walker said. "There's two things you can't account for: turnovers and injuries. The fact that we got some turnovers tonight made things a little bit easier for us offensively."

Cade Stockman found Ethan Luebbering for a 35-yard touchdown pass following the Falcons' first takeaway, an interception by Drew Boessen.

Stockman's next pass, a 51-yard touchdown strike over the middle to Ben Thomas, pushed him past 1,000 yards passing for the season. In six games since replacing an injured Nolan Hair, Stockman is 76-of-148 for 1,117 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.

"For him to step in and do what he's done, it's a credit to Cade and all the coaches that work with him," Walker said. " They're finding ways to play to his strengths."

Hair, who was cleared last week for light activity, was dressed in full uniform Friday on the Falcons' sideline.

Riley Lentz scored the Falcons' final three touchdowns on rushes of 1, 3 and 1 yards. He finished with 14 carries for 29 yards.

For the second straight week, a wide receiver led Blair Oaks in rushing. Thomas carried the ball on three sweeps for 32 yards.

"The last two or three weeks, we wanted to get Benner more involved," Walker said. "We were just trying to figure out the best way to do it. We're going to motion him more and try and take some of the burden off of (Braydan Pritchett). At some point in time, you've got to play with all 11 out there."

California was held to 116 yards of total offense, all rushing. Cory Friedmeyer had 13 carries for a game-high 88 yards.

"The kid's a really tough running back," Walker said. "At the end of the game, he was playing just as hard as he was at the beginning of the game."

The Falcons have not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Blake Lewis in the season opener at Kirksville.

Davis completed just one of his eight passes attempts and threw three interceptions.

"It doesn't really matter who you play, you're trying to figure out what they want to do and then you try and take it away from them," Walker said. "Our kids did a good job for the most part versus the run. When they did throw the football, I thought we did a good job of playing the football when it was in the air."

Blair Oaks (8-0) will try to close out its third straight undefeated regular season Friday at Warsaw (4-4). The Wildcats lost 47-12 on Friday at Southern Boone.

Friday's game will also be the final conference football game for the Wildcats as a member of the Tri-County.

Next school year, Warsaw will join the Ozark Highlands Conference.

"Warsaw has a much improved team and we don't take anybody lightly, because on any given night, anyone can beat you," Walker said.