For most of the first quarter it looked like the Carl Junction Bulldogs were in control of the game — and then a series of penalties and turnovers flipped the momentum and the Ozark Tigers quickly capitalized, taking the lead — and then the game, 37-16, to close out the regular season.
Currently, Carl Junction is the third seed in the Class 4 District 6 with a 3-6 record. The Bulldogs would host sixth-seeded Hillcrest (1-8) in the district opener.
Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a horse collar put a stake in three drives, and two interceptions and a fumble in the first half alone, allowed Ozark (3-6) to take a lead they would not surrender.
Ozark started the game with a short kick and on the first play from scrimmage, Carl Junction’s Dexter Merrell busted loose for 28 yards to get the ball deep into Ozark territory.
However, an unsportsmanlike conduct call shortly after left the Bulldogs with second-down-and-25, effectively puttting a stake in the drive.
The ensuing punt was a booming and pinned the Tigers on their own 1-ard line. On Ozark’s second play of the game, a sack in the end zone gave the Bulldogs the early 2-0 lead on a safety and a free possession with 9:35 left in the quarter.
Just a few short minutes later, Merrell hammered out a 20-yard touchdown run with 6:20 left in the first quarter to make the score 9-0.
It was the last time the Bulldogs would see the end zone until the end of the fourth.
Ozark struck for the first time with 9:35 left in the first half, on a 40-yard pass from quarterback Brady Dodd to Will Scheer to cut the lead to 9-7.
With 7:36 to go, and driving, the Bulldogs fumbled deep in Ozark territory. The Tigers proceeded to break loose for an open field run that would have put them on the CJ 28, but a horse-collar penalty moved the ball to the CJ 13, and with 5:57 left in the half Jake Beets rumbled in from the 9 and left the score 14-9.
The Bulldogs threw an interception with 5:36 left in the half, and a few minutes later, with 2:27 left in the period, Dodd would dash into the end zone on a 9-ard run to extend the lead to 21-9 in favor of Ozark.
The woes continued in the second half. After forcing a quick three-and-out on Ozark, the Bulldogs blocked the ensuing punt with about 9:50 to go in the quarter, but were unable to capitalize, throwing a second interception in the red zone of the game, and Ozark returned the ball to the CJ 31.
CJ held the Tigers to a 37-yard field near the end of the third quarter.
A 25-yard pass from Dodd to Scheer pushed the Ozark lead to 31-9 with just 35 seconds left in the third.
Just seven seconds later, the Bulldogs turned the ball over again on a fumble — this time on their own 15 — and on the next play, Beets scored from 3yards out to bring the score to 38-9 with 10:43 left in the game.
Carl Junction was able to get into the end zone again with 40 seconds left in the game, on an 8-yard run by Chance Benford.
