By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — A virtual stalemate resulted when Carthage and Monett clashed during the football jamboree at Carl Junction High School on its shiny new artificial surface on Friday night.

Shoot, that’s what should have happened.

This was No. 1 vs. No. 1, after all.

Some media sources have pegged Carthage No. 1 in Missouri Class 4 and Monett No. 1 in Class 3.

“Those polls are off last year,” Carthage coach Jon Guidie and Monett coach Alan Spencer groaned in unison.

The polls also are based, realistically, on the fact that Carthage and Monett are blessed with several salty veterans from outstanding teams.

Added Spencer: “I will say Class 3 is wide-open (with a handful of former Class 3 powers joining Class 4).”

Anyway, they each scored a touchdown against each other on Friday night.

Carthage opened the program by scoring twice against Carl Junction. Monett, in Scrimmage 3 in the meeting of Big 8 Conference teams, broke through late against the host Bulldogs.

“I thought Carl Junction bounced back and had a strong scrimmage against us,” Spencer said.

“We were pleased with a lot of things,” Spencer said of the meeting with Carthage. “Our kids were resilient. It’s a veteran ballclub on both sides.”

Carthage scored first against Monett with Trey Derryberry and wide receiver Clay Kinman hooking up for a lengthy strike.

But the Monett defense then stiffened with junior Spenser Witt picking off a pass near the goal line to highlight its performance.