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By Bridget Bauer,
The Joplin Globe
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After scoring two quick touchdowns and holding off a
first-half momentum burst by the Monett Cubs, the Carl Junction
Bulldogs eventually clicked on all cylinders and coasted to a
22-7 victory Friday in both teams’ opener.
The Bulldogs (1-0, 1-0 Big 8) had a fairly even offensive
production, with senior Zak Porath leading with 127 rushing
yards on 25 carries and one touchdown. Senior quarterback Cade
Gosch finished with 91 yards on 9-of-16 passing and two
touchdowns. Additionally, the Bulldog defense held the Cubs
(0-1, 0-1 Big 8) to only 65 total yards the second half.
“Our defense stepped up and took the challenge and played
lights-out,” Carl Junction coach Bret Gosch said. “It was
our first ballgame to overcome the first-game jitters and the
penalties and turnovers, which are things we can correct.”
Scoring on their second and third possessions, the Bulldogs
rapidly took a 13-0 lead. On the first scoring drive, Carl
Junction drove 68 yards with Porath accounting for 35 of those
yards. The drive ended when Cade Gosch hit Dakota Allen for a
13-yard touchdown pass. After the failed extra-point attempt,
the Bulldogs led 6-0.
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Dakota
Allen catches a TD pass in the corner of the end zone |
On its ensuing possession, Monett didn’t garner a first
down and was set to punt at its 30-yard line. The snap sailed
over the punter’s head, and the Bulldogs set up at the Cubs’
3. Carl Junction finally reached the end zone when Cade Gosch
connected with Allen for a 4-yard touchdown. That gave the
Bulldogs a 13-0 lead with 10:49 left in the first half.
After that, the momentum shifted to the Cubs. Of their 225
total yards, 161 were tallied in the first half. Driving 74
yards on 11 carries, Monett scored to cut the lead to 13-7.
Scotty Wilson started the drive by scampering 36 yards on the
first play. Quarterback Brendan Cox also hit Kellen Bounous for
a 13-yard pass, and John Graessle capped off the drive with a
2-yard run.
“We controlled the ball the first half,” Monett coach
Alan Spencer said. “But we didn’t keep it up the second
half. We did some good things, but the (bad) thing is our
inexperience on offense.”
The Bulldogs didn’t do anything else on offense in the
first half with one possession ending on a fumble and the other
going just four plays. Meanwhile, Monett had another long drive
and was attempting another one before Porath intercepted Cox.
“They played well, and their defense adjusted to our
offense well,” Bret Gosch said. “They had the momentum, and
we were scared. But, we hung in there, and I’m tickled to
death with how our defense played.”
Neither team did much in the third quarter. Carl Junction
finally got on the scoreboard with 10.5 seconds left after
Carden nailed a 32-yard field goal. Porath also intercepted Cox
again in the fourth period, but the Bulldogs’ final touchdown
was set up after Cox fumbled at the Cubs’ 18. It took two
plays for Porath to reach the end zone.
“Our offense gave up points,” Spencer said. “I was
pleased with our effort but disappointed with our lack of
composure. Carl Junction is a good ballclub, and we fought and
hung in there.”
Wilson finished with 60 yards on 9 attempts while Cox
accumulated 87 yards on 14-of-24 passing.
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