There was really only one difference in Carl Junction's final game of the season against Webb City.  Unfortunately, stopping the run happens to be a major part of a high school football game.  The visiting Cardinals (10-0) carried 43 times for 341 yards, a whopping 7.9 yards per rush.  Their six rushing touchdowns, including four in the first half, lifted Webb City to a 40-14 victory over the Bulldogs (6-4) and brought Carl Junction's 2008 season to an end.

Carl Junction's Zach Waranch (24) attempts to break away from a Webb City defender (Joplin Globe Photo)

Carl Junction's starting tailback, Chase Price, gained 5 yards on the first play of the game but did not play again after suffering an injury on the play.  The Bulldogs also missed Price, their leading tackler, on defense.   After gaining a first down in their first series, the Bulldogs failed to pick up another first down before being down 20-0 at the 2:59 mark of the first quarter.   After another Bulldogs 3-and-out, a 42-yard punt from Jansen Adams backed Webb City up to their own 35-yard line, their worst starting field position of the game thus far.   The Cards gained 3 yards on first down but Matt Thompson recovered a fumble at the Cardinals' 46-yard line, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs in excellent field position.

But Carl Junction once again failed to pick up a first down and Adams punted 36 yards to the Webb City 4 yard line.

Facing second and 6 from their 8, Webb City quarterback Patrick Drake threw to the flat where Bulldogs senior linebacker Kyle McConnell intercepted the pass, returning it 12 yards for Carl Junction's first score.  Nii Abrahams added the PAT, pulling the Bulldogs to within 20-7 with 11:08 to play in the second quarter.

Webb City cranked up the running game again and despite five turnovers for the game, they built a 40-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

In addition to Thompson's fumble recovery and McConnell's pick, seniors Joey Braeckel and Andrew Clark also scooped up loose balls in their final high school game.  Junior Jake Stevenson recorded an interception for the Bulldogs.

McConnell scored from 4 yards out with 4:40 to play in the game, with Abrahams again adding the PAT for the final 40-14 score.  Junior Zach Waranch gained 56 yards on 9 carries during the 12-play, 80-yard drive.

Waranch finished with 103 yards on 29 carries, with 84 of those yards coming in the second half.

Thompson finished 3 of 13 passing for 30 yards and 2 interceptions.

"I hate that the season is over," Carl Junction coach Bret Gosch said afterwards.  "I'll be extremely optimistic going into next season."

The Bulldogs had six seniors playing in their final game.  In addition to Braeckel, Clark and McConnell, classmates Jake Hale, Ryan Fullerton and Austin Osborn finished their careers for Carl Junction.  Braeckel, Clark, McConnell and Osborn were two-way starters, while Hale and Fullerton started for the offense.  The Bulldogs won 70% of their games during this group's final two seasons.