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PREP FOOTBALL: Carl Junction shakes off slow start to beat Branson

By:
Patrick Richardson

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — After an up-an-down first quarter where Carl Junction’s defense held Branson at bay, the Bulldog offense settled into a rhythm in the second quarter on the way to picking up a 33-7 win over the Pirates on Friday at Bulldog Stadium.

Branson (1-2) was forced to punt the opening possession only to see Carl Junction (2-1) muff the return over to the Pirates deep in Bulldog territory.

Carl Junction’s defense forced Branson into a turnover on downs before going three-and-out on its first possession of the game. The Bulldog defense rallied again, as Ayden Bard came up with an interception and returned it 35 yards to the house for a touchdown to give Carl Junction a 7-0 lead with 2:04 to play in the first quarter.

Carl Junction opened the game up in the second quarter, getting on the board with an 8-yard touchdown pass from QB Kyler Perry to Shane Diskin with 3:18 to go in the half to make the score 13-0.

With 1:50 left in the half, Branson fumbled deep in their own territory, setting up a Perry 12-yard touchdown pass to Dexter Merrell to make the score 20-0.

After a 50-yard return on the kickoff to start the second half, Perry hit Bard on a deep pass on the first play from scrimmage to set up first and goal on the Pirate 5. Carl Junction’s Tony Stewart rumbled in from 2 yards out with 10:31 to go in the third to extend the lead to 26-0.

A few minutes later, Carter Jenkins got Branson on the scoreboard with a pick-6 with 8:15 to go in the third to trim CJ’s lead to 26-7.

With 3:06 to go in the game, an 8-yard touchdown run by Stewart put the final cap on the game, bringing the score to 33-7.

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