BRANSON, Mo. — Carl Junction, fresh off a 48-12 loss to Carthage, came into Branson Friday night firing on all cylinders to earn a 32-7 bounce-back win over the Pirates on Friday.
On the first play from scrimmage, Carl Junction quarterback Dexter Merrell fired an 80-yard pass to WR Malakhi Moore for a touchdown and the Bulldogs never looked back, improving to 2-3 on the season with Branson falling to 1-4.
The Pirates tried to answer back the quick score, putting together a long drive, only for CJ to force a turnover on a pitch play at the Bulldogs’ 9-yard line with 7:03 left in the first quarter.
Carl Junction started with good field position after the second Branson drive, and Merrell took advantage shortly after with a 10-yard keeper for a touchdown to push the lead to 13-0 with 8:01 to go in the half.
Merrell later connected with TE Quin Kennedy from 15 yards out for a touchdown to push the Bulldog lead to 20-0 with 5:35 left in the half.
After a Branson turnover, the Bulldogs scored again with 2:06 to go in the half on a 15-yard run RB Arlen Wakefield for a 26-0 lead by the half.
The Pirates reached the scoreboard the only time with 7:15 to go in the third quarter on an 8-yard run from Will Thornton to cut the lead to 26-7.
RB Johnny Starks added a 4-yard touchdown run for the Bulldogs with 4:12 to go extend the lead to 32-7 and the game was out of reach.
Carl Junction hosts Nixa on Friday.
