Bulldogs overwhelm Marshfield, take on Bolivar Friday

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction won its first round of football districts 49-14 against Marshfield Friday and advances to play Bolivar at home in the district semifinals at 7 p.m. next Friday.Carl Junction quarterback Burke Diskin had three rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns on the night.“It feels real great, we’re keeping the season alive," Diskin said.Marshfield received the first kick and got things moving on its 33. Carl Junction's defense didn’t give much and forced Marshfield to an early 4th and 1. The Blue Jays looked to set the tone early and then converted with a run up the middle. The Bulldogs didn’t fold and some strong pass defense forced a 4th and 3 on the CJ 35. Three yards proved too much and it was Bulldog ball.The Bulldogs' offense started with a quarterback keeper to Diskin, which gained a few yards. Tadem Jones made a run across the midfield before Tristen Lopez took an outside run to the 17. Diskin finished off the drive by following a Lopez block into the end zone. The extra point made it a 7-0 ballgame.The next drive saw little success for Marshfield. They gained about 15 yards before the ball came loose in a crowd and it wound up in Izic Boles’ hands for the Bulldogs.Two plays is all CJ needed starting on the Marshfield 31. Lopez broke off to gain 5 yards on the ground and Bryant Hanks beat his man on a go route and Diskins put it in his arms. Less than 10 minutes in, CJ led 14-0.Marshfield faced a 3 and out on its next possession but quarterback and punter Brock Jensen booted it 40 yards and pinned CJ inside its own 10.A fair catch infraction started Carl on the 5. Lopez broke out for a 9-yard gain and to follow that up Diskin took it the remaining 87 yards on the next play to score his third touchdown of the night.After the first quarter wrapped up, Marshfield got going. After a few small runs, Jensen hit tight end Boyd Messick for the first down. On the next set of downs, the visitors were in a 3rd and 7 situation. Blayne Fleming batted down a low pass to force a fourth down. Keller Campbell made a play breaking up a pass and getting the turnover on downs.Nothing came off the turnover and CJ punted. On the first play of the drive Kage Stewart got into the backfield and forced a fumble that he also recovered.On the Marshfield 19, Lopez took two plays to punch the ball in and set the score at 28-0.Marshfield got a drive going through the air and a pass interference call sent them to the 15. From there Jensen hit Boyd in the end zone.Carl responded to the 28-7 score by driving down the field and scoring a touchdown. The touchdown play was a Diskin pass to Maddox Shorter.Shorter described the play as, “Diskin read the corner, who had moved to cover (Hanks) and found me open.” Diskin said, “(That) was not the intent of the play (the intended pass was to Hanks) but the corner moved to cover (Hanks) and (Shorter) was wide open.”Diskin then punched in a 2 point conversion and set the score at 36-7 at the end of the half.In the third quarter, CJ started with the ball and the drive resulted in another Diskin rushing touchdown. The resulting kickoff saw a fumble recovered by CJ and Diskin scored another rushing touchdown but the extra point was blocked.Before the end of the third, Marshfield’s Anthony Macrelli scored a rushing touchdown.The fourth quarter saw both teams kill the clock and the game ended 49-14 in favor of CJ.Bolivar won 42-20 over McDonald County Friday night.Shorter said, “I think we’ll be fine. Our coaches will prep us well all week.”