LEBANON, Mo. — After a two-year absence, the Carthage Tigers are back in the Final Four.
With a strong overall performance, Carthage defeated Lebanon 35-14 on Saturday afternoon in a Class 5 quarterfinal.
The Tigers (11-1) will host Francis Howell (12-0) at 1 p.m. next Saturday in the semifinals.
Carthage last advanced to the semifinals in 2019, the year the Tigers won the state championship.
On Saturday, the Tigers held a 14-7 lead at halftime before they pulled away with a 14-0 third quarter.
After the Tigers recovered a Lebanon fumble on the 36-yard line, the visitors scored six plays later on Cooper Jadwin’s 14-yard QB keeper. Chris Mejia’s PAT kick made it 7-0 with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Lebanon tied the game with 6:01 left in the second quarter after Cade Muscia’s 4-yard touchdown run and the PAT kick by Rhett Rhoades.
Luke Gall’s 37th touchdown of the season, a 4-yard plunge, gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead with 2:06 left in the first half. The score capped a nine play, 62-yard drive.
The Tigers extended their lead early in the third period.
Gall’s 22-yard touchdown run gave Carthage a 21-7 lead with 9:59 left in the third quarter. The score was set up when Mason Frisinger blocked a Lebanon punt.
Moments after the Tigers recovered a Lebanon fumble, Clay Kinder’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Moore gave Carthage a 28-7 lead with 4:08 left in the third quarter.
The Yellowjackets trimmed their deficit to 28-14 early in the fourth quarter on Muscia’s 3-yard touchdown run.
The Tigers took a 35-14 lead when Kinder completed a 22-yard TD strike to Moore on fourth down with 4:02 left. The score all but sealed the win.
Francis Howell beat Timberland 49-18.
The other Class 5 semifinal will feature Cape Girardeau Central vs. Fort Osage.
The state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 2 in Columbia.