The final score didn’t really tell the tale of the game.
Despite falling 49-21, the Carl Junction Bulldogs (3-5) were largely competitive with the Nixa Eagles (7-1) for much of Friday night’s game.
Five interceptions and a fumble were largely the difference in the game, with the scoring being otherwise fairly even.
In fact, the Bulldogs held the lead for most of the first quarter, putting together a solid drive that took nearly 8 minutes off the clock and scoring first on a 3-yard run by quarterback Dexter Merrill to make the score 7-0 with 3:55 left in the period.
Both teams went three and out on their following possessions and with time running out in the first quarter, the Eagles managed their first conversion of the game on a fourth-down-and-1 on a fake punt.
Nixa got on the board with 9:27 left in the half on a 30-yard pass from Connor Knatcal to Austin McCracken to tie the game at 7-7.
Nixa struck again with 6:52 in the half on a Spencer Ward 22-yard touchdown reception to go up 17-7.
On the next possession, an interception left Nixa on the Bulldog 32, but on the very next play Carl Junction returned the favor with 4:04 left in the half when CJ’s Jordan Woodruff busted a 14-yard run for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.
On the following kick off, however, Nixa busted loose for a massive return landing on the Bulldog 44.
With 1:42 left in the half, Ward punched it in for another TD and the Eagles were on top 21-14.
The Bulldogs attempted to answer back, but with just 18 seconds left in the half a fumble deep in their own territory set up another Nixa touchdown, and with three seconds left on the clock, a 16-yard pass to McCracken to make the score 28-14.
On the opening drive of the second half, Nixa’s Kael Combs caught a short pass and went 59 yards with 9:40 left in the quarter and after the kick the score was 35-14.
With 5:26 left in the third, a pitch to Woodruff for a 2-yard run brought the Bulldogs back at 35-21.
But just about two minutes later a pick-6 by Nixa’s Ty Harman brought the score to 42-21 with 3:31 to go in the period.
At the start of the fourth, the Bulldogs were driving but were again picked off, and a couple possessions later Nixa punched in with 2:51 left in the half from the 1 by John Gholson to make the score 49-21.
