Carthage outlasts Seneca 61-47

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Globe/Bill Shepherd Carthage's Seth Becker runs the ball back during a Seneca kickoff at Seneca High School on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Globe/B.W.Shepherd Seneca's #34 Braxton Graham trys to push over the goal line during an extra point attempt as Carthage's #12 Dylan Mellies and #80 Tyler Ralston try to defend at Seneca High School on Friday, August 24, 2012.

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August 25, 2012

Carthage outlasts Seneca 61-47

By Craig Hull The Joplin Globe The Joplin Globe Sat Aug 25, 2012, 12:49 AM CDT

SENECA, Mo. — While the victory and gaudy statistics that went with it were worth discussing, Carthage’s Jordan Musser brought to attention another important detail.

“Notice the condition of the uniform, nice and clean,” said the 6-foot-2, 170 senior starting his second year as the Tigers quarterback.

“All because of those guys up front, the offensive line made it happen tonight. I think I got knocked down one time the whole game and it was on a two-point conversion.”

Carthage and Seneca combined to score 108 points — issuing a challenge for both respective basketball programs this winter — Friday night during a 61-47 season-opening victory for the Tigers on Tom Hodge Field at Earl Campbell Stadium.

The numbers resemble that of a video game — four running backs eclipsed 100 yards, including two over 200 yards, both quarterbacks threw for over 200 yards, 11 receivers had a catch in the game, seven with more than one and there was one receiver with over 100 yards and a second had 99 yards.

“Offensively, we had everything working tonight. We showed our speed, both in the running game and the passing game,” said Musser, who was 11 of 15 for 289 yards and four touchdowns.

“We’re fast, and with the speed at running back, it opens up several options in the passing game. We knew going into the season our offense would be good, but this was a good performance.”

Added Carthage head coach Jon Guidie, “When you’re doing what we were doing tonight, it’s a lot of those guys up front and we have some new faces up there too.”

Musser’s scoring plays including a 36-yard strike to E.J. Morgan on a post pattern in the first quarter and a screen play to senior speedster Seth Beckner who went 60 yards in the second quarter. He connected with Morgan again for 20 yards on a slant route and a hit Jordan Dangerfield on a 39-yard fade pattern both in the fourth quarter.

Beckner, who caught three passes for 119 yards all in the first half, totaled 251 yards rushing on 16 carries. He carried the ball only three times in the third quarter due to leg cramps, yet still had 165 yards, breaking a 40-yard touchdown on a zone dive, a 70-yard touchdown on an option pitch and dodging his way to a 55-yard run on a draw.

Fellow Tiger halfback, junior Cameron Priester, finished with 101 yards on six carries with a pair of touchdowns.

Not to be overshadowed, Seneca countered with senior tailback Marty Mailes, who rushed for 211 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns.

Junior reserve Braxton Graham added 113 yards rushing on seven carries and caught three passes for 43 yards.

Junior quarterback Peyton Rawlins completed 17 of 32 passes for 241 yards and four touchdowns.

He connected with Tyler Ng on a six-yard fade while drawing contact in the first quarter, hit Chance Smith on a 35-yard strike in the final seconds of the second quarter for a 27-25 halftime score, hooked up with junior tight end Dalan Merriman for a 46-yard touchdown that Merriman caught while being held and then raced in for the score in the third quarter and Jalen Skaggs caught a 10-yard slip screen touchdown in the final minute of the game.

Merriman finished with three receptions for 99 yards, Skaggs caught six for 46 yards.

“I’m very encouraged by this football game, I’m disappointed we got beat scoring 47 points, but I’m encouraged that we hung right with a team that has tremendous speed and skill and highly regarded in Class 4,” said Seneca head coach Dan Scheible. “We made several small mistakes, dropped passes in key situations, that if we make those plays, this game is a lot closer.

“We knew back in June our offense would have an opportunity to be very good. The balance was there, run and pass.”