CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Turnovers sealed Carl Junction’s fate in the first round of Class 4 District 6 play Friday night.
The Bulldogs committed eight turnovers—four of them interceptions, including one on their final play of the game—and the Hillcrest Hornets made sure to capitalize on the way to upsetting the Carl Junction 24-14.
With the win, Hillcrest improves to 2-8, and advances to the second round of district play, while the Bulldogs’ season ends at 3-7.
Hillcrest went three-and-out on its first series and a bad punt put CJ in excellent field position. However, a few plays later on fourth-down-and-8 deep in Hillcrest territory, the Bulldogs threw their first interception of the night. Fortunately, the Hornets were unable to capitalize after turning the ball over on downs, but a few minutes later, a high snap and fumble with 7:42 to go in the half was the second turnover of the night for Carl Junction.
Hillcrest turned the second turnover into points with a 25-yard field goal with 5:05 to go in the half put the Hornets on top 3-0.
With 53 seconds in the half, what looked like a 14-yard run for a touchdown was called back on a holding penalty, but a few seconds later, Kyler Stewart grabbed a pass for a 14-yard touchdown from Nathan Planchon to give Carl Junction a 7-3 lead with 41 seconds left in the half.
The Bulldogs’ defense forced another three-and-out, with the special teams unit recording a blocked punt with seven seconds left that gave Carl Junction the ball deep in Hillcrest territory. CJ suffered its second interception of the game trying for the end zone before the half.
The Bulldogs broke loose for a huge return but a fumbled gave Hillcrest the possession, and less than three minutes later, the Hornets took the lead with a 42-yard touchdown pass with 9:36 left in the third to make the score was 10-7 in favor Hillcrest.
Hillcrest later took possession on the Bulldog 20-yard line following an interception by Carl Junction followed by a 15-yard penalty and eventually punched it in from 8 yards out to push the lead to 17-7.
Carl Junction connected on a 72-yard bomb from Planchon to Jordan Woodruff to trim the lead to 17-14.
With 5:58 to go in the game, the Bulldogs turned it over for the seventh time in the game with a fumble that ultimately led to another Hornet score with 2:20 left to play to push the lead to 24-14.
