By Joe Hadsall
jhadsall@joplinglobe.com
Carl Junction coach Bret Gosch likes the way his young team is developing and gaining confidence.
“We are losing that deer-in-the-headlights look,” Gosch said after the Bulldogs earned a dominating 47-7 win over Aurora Friday night at Bulldog Stadium. “We need to improve with our experience, and we’re getting better just from playing.”
Strong defense in the third quarter made the difference in the game. With a 19-7 lead at halftime, the Bulldogs pressured Aurora’s offense into short drives and turnovers, leading to 28 points.
Junior running back Zach Waranch ran for two touchdowns and 89 yards on 21 carries. Most of those carries were short-yardage pushes up the middle, Waranch said.
“It was all the offensive line,” Waranch said. “We work on that all through the week in practice, and they did well tonight.”
Junior quarterback Matt Thompson went 5-of-11 on passing attempts for 136 yards and three touchdowns; he also ran for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Carl Junction’s dominan third quarter started with a short field. A botched punt gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Aurora 14. Thompson scrambled for a touchdown four plays later.
Two plays later, junior Jansen Adams made his second interception of the night. He picked off a pass from Aurora quarterback Dakota Matter and ran 24 yards for a defensive touchdown.
The Houn’ Dawgs never made it past their own 37-yard line in the quarter. The Bulldogs took advantage of short fields with Thompson’s 37-yard touchdown pass to senior Joey Braeckel and a 4-yard scoring run by Waranch.
“Our defense is gaining confidence in itself and playing well,” Gosch said. “They allow us to do some things offensively, and gives us the freedom to change things up.”
The Bulldogs didn’t start as strongly as they finished.
The team missed a field goal and committed two turnovers in the first quarter; one of which led to the Aurora touchdown.
Thompson said the team’s lack of intensity was corrected at the half.
“We just had to come out with more intensity,” Thompson said. “We overlooked them in the first half, so we came out on fire.”
On the third play of the game, Waranch fumbled while trying to switch hands. Aurora linebacker Michael Olinger recovered at the Carl Junction 19.
The turnover led to the Houn’ Dawgs’ only score. Senior running back Chris Crowley scrambled left and dashed into the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
Carl Junction responded quickly, driving 60 yards in three plays. Junior receiver Jake Stevenson made a leaping reception for 13 yards, then junior Corey Ferson caught a 45-yard pass from Thompson. Waranch capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs’ next drive was stalled by a fumble. From the Aurora 31, Thompson faked to Waranch then scrambled left. Moments before he reached the end zone, the ball was stripped and recovered by Aurora.
Carl Junction recovered in the second quarter. From the Aurora 36, Thompson found Stevenson open at the 20 on the right side of the field. After making the catch, Stevenson ran left and sprinted into the end zone.
Thompson passed four yards to Kyle McConnell for another second-period score.
Gosch said his team, which lost 13 seniors last year, is gaining confidence to tackle tough opponents during the rest of the season.
“We needed a great game from our offensive line tonight, and we got it,” Gosch said. “This was exactly what our offense needed. We showed we can run and pass the ball.”
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’Dogs dominate second half
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