The jury is still out on whether California is a contender or a pretender in the Class A Tri-County South Conference this season. Either way, coach Joe Kuhns is having a good time.

"Two weeks into the season I told one of the [assistant] coaches that -- win or lose -- his is going to be a lot of fun," Kuhns said.

That's because the Trojans are a more together bunch this season.

In recent seasons California was paced by Donte Valentino, the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,362 yards, 20th best all-time in the WPIAL. But there was a tendency for others to stand around and watch Valentino work his magic.

This season, it has been more of a group effort and that translated into a first-place tie with Beth-Center in the conference standings after five games.

Both were 3-0 in the Tri-County South before his weekend's games. California was 3-2 overall, Beth-Center 4-1.

"There are two differences from last year for us," Kuhns said. "There is more of a family atmosphere and we are more physical than we have been in the past.

"With Donte the last four years, he did a lot of things. Without him the other guys have taken more ownership, they're pulling for each other more. It's a nice, tight group."

Statistics through the first five games bear out what Kuhns is talking about. Seven players have scored at least three touchdowns. Running back Jordan Michaux had rushed for 381 yards on 45 carries and Devante Brooks had gained 244 yards on 35 attempts.

Quarterback D.J. Martinak, a junior, had completed 28 of 47 passes for 474 yards and eight touchdowns.

"One of the biggest surprises has been the play of our quarterback," Kuhns said. "He didn't have the big-play ability last year that he has shown this year.

"He's just calmer this season. He's reading defenses pretty well and just making good decisions. We have a pretty good quarterback coach [Doug Clish] and this is his third year working with D.J. and I think that's made a big difference."

Kuhns is the first to admit that California's early conference schedule hasn't been tough. The Trojans' three conference wins going into Friday's game at Carmichaels were against West Greene (0-5), Geibel (2-3) and Mapletown (0-5).

The meat of the schedule started this weekend and continues Friday when California entertains Beth-Center. The final two regular-season contests are at Jefferson-Morgan and against Monessen.

"We're cautiously optimistic," Kuhn said. "But if we keep playing the way we have been, we can compete with anybody in our conference."

One reason California has been more physical this season is that the Trojans have continued their weight training.

"We've kept it up so we'd maintain our strength," Kuhns said. "We've also tried to instill in the players that they have to be more physical."

To that end, Kuhns has come up with a weekly award. The player who is the most physical in a game is the "sledgehammer" for the week. That means he gets to carry a decorated sledgehammer and lead the Trojans onto the field the next week.

Players don't know who will carry the sledgehammer until pregame warmups.

"They want me to tell them during the week, but we wait until pregame," he said. "I wish I could take credit for the idea but a friend of mine coaches at Waynesburg University and they do it, so we picked it up from them."

When asked if the sledgehammer is just one from the garage or a painted up number Kuhns said, "I'm an art teacher, what do you think?"

Heading into this weekend there were still 18 teams in the WPIAL that have yet to experience a defeat. That number dropped considerably with all the big games this weekend, including a few where unbeaten teams played against each other.

The stretch run begins this week with just three regular-season games remaining and teams jockeying for spots in the WPIAL playoffs. Here are some games to check out Friday and Saturday:

Peters Township entertains talented Bethel Park in the Class AAAA Great Southern Conference, while Canon-McMillan plays host to struggling Mt. Lebanon.

In Class AAA, Belle Vernon is at Ringgold's Joe Montana Stadium in the Big Seven Conference and Trinity entertains West Mifflin.

And in Class A, Chartiers-Houston is at Serra Catholic and Fort Cherry plays host to Frazier in the Black Hills.