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While Neosho’s fans and players were in a mood to celebrate on homecoming night at Bob Anderson Stadium, it was the visiting Carthage Tigers who did the celebrating Friday after a 49-7 victory over the Wildcats.
Carthage scored on four of its first six possessions in the game and took a 28-0 lead at the half.
The two drives that didn’t result in touchdowns resulted in fumbles; both forced and recovered by Tyler Rathmann.
Neosho punted on five of its six first-half possessions.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the possession that didn’t result in a punt also resulted in a fumble.
It was that sort of night for Neosho.
Running back Seth Beckner set the tone early, scoring on a 48-yard run on Carthage’s fifth play of the game. The point after made it 7-0 with 9:27 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers got the ball back at the 48 after a Neosho punt and Beckner rushed to the Wildcats’ 26 on first down, but a fumble by Carthage quarterback Jordan Musser at the 18-yard line ended the scoring threat.
Neosho couldn’t turn the turnover into points and had to punt again. One the ensuing Carthage possession, the Tigers drove 76 yards for a score.
Musser connected with receiver Sam Carlton on a 30-yard pass to the Neosho 10 on the next Carthage series, but Carlton was hit hard by Rathmann and fumbled the ball. Rathmann then scooped the ball up to breathe life into the Wildcats.
Once again, the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize and Carthage regained possession of the football.
Neosho was forced to punt from its own 11 after Rathmann was sacked by a host of Tigers, giving Carthage possession at the Neosho 38. Carthage completed a long pass on first down, then Beckner ran it in from 17 yards out to give Carthage a 28-0 lead before the half.
Reed added a 15-yard touchdown run with 6:27 left in the third, then Neosho had a punt blocked inside the Wildcats’ 22, which Beckner scooped up and took for a touchdown. Vogt’s PAT made it 42-0 with 2:49 left in the third.
Later in the third, Rathmann got a little bit of revenge. The senior intercepted a Carthage pass and returned it more than 40 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.
Carthage would answer back on its next drive with a touchdown of its own.
Neosho got the ball back and drove to the Carthage 1, but time expired before the Wildcats could run a fourth-and-goal play.
While Neosho’s fans and players were in a mood to celebrate on homecoming night at Bob Anderson Stadium, it was the visiting Carthage Tigers who did the celebrating Friday after a 49-7 victory over the Wildcats.
Carthage scored on four of its first six possessions in the game and took a 28-0 lead at the half.
The two drives that didn’t result in touchdowns resulted in fumbles; both forced and recovered by Tyler Rathmann.
Neosho punted on five of its six first-half possessions.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the possession that didn’t result in a punt also resulted in a fumble.
It was that sort of night for Neosho.
Running back Seth Beckner set the tone early, scoring on a 48-yard run on Carthage’s fifth play of the game. The point after made it 7-0 with 9:27 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers got the ball back at the 48 after a Neosho punt and Beckner rushed to the Wildcats’ 26 on first down, but a fumble by Carthage quarterback Jordan Musser at the 18-yard line ended the scoring threat.
Neosho couldn’t turn the turnover into points and had to punt again. One the ensuing Carthage possession, the Tigers drove 76 yards for a score.
Musser connected with receiver Sam Carlton on a 30-yard pass to the Neosho 10 on the next Carthage series, but Carlton was hit hard by Rathmann and fumbled the ball. Rathmann then scooped the ball up to breathe life into the Wildcats.
Once again, the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize and Carthage regained possession of the football.
Neosho was forced to punt from its own 11 after Rathmann was sacked by a host of Tigers, giving Carthage possession at the Neosho 38. Carthage completed a long pass on first down, then Beckner ran it in from 17 yards out to give Carthage a 28-0 lead before the half.
Reed added a 15-yard touchdown run with 6:27 left in the third, then Neosho had a punt blocked inside the Wildcats’ 22, which Beckner scooped up and took for a touchdown. Vogt’s PAT made it 42-0 with 2:49 left in the third.
Later in the third, Rathmann got a little bit of revenge. The senior intercepted a Carthage pass and returned it more than 40 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.
Carthage would answer back on its next drive with a touchdown of its own.
Neosho got the ball back and drove to the Carthage 1, but time expired before the Wildcats could run a fourth-and-goal play.
“We didn’t want to get in a hole and we did get in a hole,” Neosho head coach Jared Schoonover said. “Offensively this season we are not a passing football team and you can’t afford to get yourself in that situation early in the game. Carthage had some big plays, we had opportunities to make stops but we didn’t make key plays when we needed to. It was frustrating in the first half. I was pleased with the effort. They were putting out maximum effort, but you can’t put yourself in situations where you’re down early in the first half.”
The early Carthage lead forced the Wildcats to go to the air. Neosho completed just 3-of-15 passing attempts in the game for 49 yards. The Wildcats finished with 142 total yards of offense.
“My young men are still fighting and still playing hard,” Schoonover said. “I’m proud of them for that. That shows their level of character and I’m proud of them for that. We’re going to keep fighting and we’re going to keep chugging.”
Neosho drops to 0-5 with the defeat. Next week, they will hit the road for the start of district play in Nixa.
