GRANDVIEW, Mo. — A fast start propelled fifth-seeded Carl Junction to a convincing 42-13 victory over fourth-seeded Grandview on Friday night in a quarterfinal contest of the Class 4 District 7 tournament.
With the win, Carl Junction (4-6) earned a semifinal date at No. 1 Center (9-0) next Friday.
After going through a rigorous COC schedule, Friday’s game was Carl Junction’s first contest against a Class 4 opponent this season.
In a clash between Bulldogs, battle-tested Carl Junction scored 21 unanswered points in the opening quarter to take control of the game.
Carl Junction struck first on junior running back Johnny Starks’ 5-yard touchdown run with 9:37 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Starks blocked a Grandview punt to give the visitors the ball on the 4-yard line. Starks ran into the end zone on the next play, giving CJ an early 14-0 lead.
Carl Junction took a 21-0 lead when junior QB Dexter Merrell completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Ayden Bard.
Grandview got on the board with 1:16 left in the opening frame on Calan Wright’s 18-yard touchdown sprint.
Carl Junction’s Starks blocked a punt for the second time in the first half, with Eli Zavala recovering the loose ball in the end zone. That score and Xavier Perkins’ PAT gave the visitors a 28-7 lead with 5:32 left in the second quarter.
A 4-yard touchdown plunge by Starks made it 34-7 with just over a minute to play in the first half, as a 2-point conversion attempt failed after the TD.
There was no scoring in the third period.
The Bulldogs extended their lead on the third play of the fourth quarter on Merrell’s 3-yard QB keeper. Merrell ran it for the 2-point conversion for a 42-7 advantage with 10:37 left.
Grandview’s Mason Johnson hauled in a long touchdown pass with just over a minute to play for the final margin.
OTHER DISTRICT ACTION: In other Class 4 District 7 quarterfinals, No. 3 Nevada beat No. 6 Harrisonville 42-21 and No. 2 Lincoln Prep topped No. 7 Warrensburg 35-25.
