Carl Junction scored five touchdowns in its first 11 plays and cruised to a 56-12 win over McDonald County in the first round of the Missouri Class 4 District 5 eight-team tournament.
The Bulldogs proved their earning the top seed in the district was no fluke, scoring 35 points in the game's first 7:10. Quarterback Keaton Tabor keyed the Carl Junction attack, running for two touchdowns and throwing for three more.
"Carl Junction was every bit as big, as strong and as fast as we anticipated," said coach John Diehl. "They looked like a Division II college team. They are very, very good. They should go deep in the playoffs."
Carl Junction added three touchdowns in the second quarter before being shut out in the second half.
McDonald County's scores came on a 1-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from Peyton Barton to Cole DelosSantos and Oakley Roessler's 9-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs marched 65 yards in 13 plays for its first touchdown. Barton completed five passes for 49 yards and ran for 13 more to key the drive.
McDonald County's final touchdown was keyed by a 46-yard screen pass from freshman Ben Mora to Isrrael De Santiago and 11 rushing yards on two carries by Jake Will.
Barton finished with 108 yards on 13 for 30 passing to lead the offense. The Mustangs finished with 154 yards through the air and 201 total yards.
Carl Junction totaled 430 yards, including 266 on the ground, led by Rayquion Weston with 116 yards and Tabor with 103.
Though the Mustangs finished 0-10, Diehl is optimistic about the future of the program.
"We have nine of 11 starters coming back on defense and eight of 11 on offense," Diehl said. "We have probably the best passing combination in the conference coming back in Peyton Barton and Cole DelosSantos. Peyton had almost 1,500 passing yards this year and Cole had 550 yards on 51 receptions. Izzy De Santiago had almost 500 yards and Oakley Roessler had over 400 yards in combined receiving and rushing yards. Micah Burkholder had 249 yards receiving this year. We have all our skill people back next year and three offensive linemen in Elliott Wolfe, Trey Black and Trystan Leach."
Diehl said players who are not in a winter sport will have the rest of October and November off before weight training for next season begins the first of December.
"We are going to work harder, twice as hard, this year to get where we want to go," Diehl said.
Sports on 10/27/2016