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Gall’s explosive night helps Carthage overcome turnovers, start 1-0

By:
Jordan Larimore

CARTHAGE, Mo. — In their first game since being crowned Class 5 football state champions last December, the Carthage Tigers played like a championship team — if one seeing its first game-speed action in nearly nine months.

A seemingly unstoppable Luke Gall, sophomore running back, helped Carthage (1-0, 1-0 COC) — which did not participate in a traditional preseason jamboree due to recommendations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic — overcome four turnovers, three of which came in the red zone. Gall scored all five of his team’s touchdowns to help Carthage beat the Ozark Tigers (0-1, 0-1 COC) 35-14 at David Haffner Stadium on Friday night. 

“A big part was the offensive line, the holes were giant,” Gall said. “Just (kept) running my feet, just run hard, that’s pretty much it. I was getting pretty gassed, I’m going to start working on my conditioning.”

He could be forgiven for some fatigue: In just his second varsity start, Gall racked up 259 rushing yards — including an 84-yard dash to the end zone — on 19 carries with the five scores. He continued that conditioning work in-game by also playing extensively at linebacker for the Carthage defense.

“Luke played really, really well,” Carthage coach Jon Guidie said. “You know, he’s a 15-year-old kid. Just a sophomore … I thought he had a great night, he had several carries, several big runs and it’s really great to see because he’s a kid that works his butt off throughout the week and in the weight room. For him to come out and have that type of game to start out with, I’m really proud of him.”

Twice, well within striking distance of a touchdown, Ozark recovered a Carthage fumble, denying the Tigers chances at padding their lead. Carthage’s last drive of the first half ended when Patrick Carlton threw an interception in the end zone. The other turnover came on a low snap that eluded Carlton. Even so, Ozark was limited to two scoring drives and Carthage rode Gall to an offensive outburst.

“That’s stuff that you can clean up and fix,” Guidie said. “And good teams will do that. I thought we were really good last year at ball security and we’ll go back and iron that stuff out. That was Gavin (VanGilder)’s first start, too, at center. And the way these guys play, the fronts they gave us and the stunts they gave us, that’s huge for Gavin to navigate through that stuff, so he’ll continue to grow and get better.”

Carthage will follow up its season-opening win next week with a road matchup with the Carl Junction Bulldogs

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