By Levi Payton
sports@joplinglobe.com
SENECA, Mo. — It’s no wonder the Carthage Tigers came into Friday’s game against Seneca ranked No. 2 in the state football polls. They came out in the first half with the offense running at full throttle and whipped the Indians 48-12.
Trey Derryberry steered the Tigers attack throughout the first half before exiting early in the third quarter after accounting for four of his team’s touchdowns. The senior quarterback ripped off rushing touchdowns of 44 and eight yards and threw for scores of 16 and 15.
His scamper from 44 yards out with 7:20 remaining in the first quarter was the game’s first score. Two plays later the Tigers got the ball back after an Indians’ fumble at the Seneca 16. Derryberry quickly connected on the first of his two touchdown passes to receiver Clay Kinman, giving the Tigers their second score in a span of 51 seconds and a 14-0 lead. Kinman hauled in his second score just before the half to make it 35-0.
“If you give Trey a little bit of time he’s going to do some good things,” Tigers’ coach Jon Guidie said.
The Indians found themselves down 42-6 at the half. The Tigers started their regulars in the third, and it took two plays before Devron Moore busted a 50-yard touchdown run to make it 48-6.
“We wanted to come out and get a good start on (the Indians),” Guidie said. “It really feels good for the kids and the coaching staff when they come out and execute the way they did.”
The Carthage defense played relentless on its side of the football. The starters gave up just one score — a 32-yard pass from Jacob Rhoades to Nick Chasten — but had very few hiccups other than that. Seneca’s deepest penetration before the score was to the Carthage 46. Guidie credited the play of his linebackers for that success.
“I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides (of the ball),” he said. “Jerrick Williams, Alex Cutbirth and Lincoln Cooper, all three of those guys were told (by coaches) all week that they need to play football on the line of scrimmage and they did a tremendous job of that tonight.”
Steven Ellefsen scored on a 15-yard run and Brian Poston added a 19 yarder to account for the other Tiger scores.
Dillan Webb broke loose on a 52-yard run in the fourth for the Indians’ last score.
The Indians did have some success throwing the ball. They connected on pass plays of 32, 18, 12 and 30 yards but it was too little, too late.
“(Seneca) runs the football extremely well,” Guidie said. “They really do. We were really concerned with what they were doing offensively.”
The courtesy rule came into play in the second half. It took just 41 minutes to complete the final two quarters.
The Tigers improved to 3-0. Seneca fell to 1-2.
Carthage travels to Willard on Friday and Seneca entertains Carl Junction.
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Derryberry ignites Carthage offense
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