Carthage Beats Marshall Twice in Monday 7-on-7 Football Action at Bulldog Stadium

CARTHAGE -- More than a month into their 2013 7-on-7 football campaign, the Carthage Bulldogs still haven't lost.

Carthage recorded 40-12 and 32-21 victories against fellow U.S. 59 foe Marshall on Monday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

Carthage has not lost in 7-on-7 action this summer. The Bulldogs were undefeated in their state-qualifying performance in late May at the Diboll state qualifier tournament and have yet to lose in league play to Shreveport Evangel and Marshall.

Carthage built a 40-0 lead in the first game against Marshall. UTSA-committed senior quarterback Blake Bogenschutz threw five touchdowns, including the first two of the game to 6-foot-6 senior receiver O'keeron Rutherford. Bogenschutz connected twice with 6-foot-3 senior receiver Terian "Tee" Goree and once with sophomore athlete Jakeldrick Jackson. Junior quarterback Trevin Bishop threw a touchdown to Justin Clough at the end of the first half for a 26-0 lead at intermission.

Goree and senior linebacker Tra Leary each had one interception. Marshall sophomore quarterback Justin Hart threw two touchdowns late: one to Deandre Osborne and another to junior running back John Love.

In the second game, Bogenschutz completed 18 of 26 passes for 245 yards and five touchdowns to lead Carthage to the win.

Marshall gained a 7-6 lead late in the first half when Hart found Blaine Hayes for a nine-yard touchdown, but Carthage immediately answered on a 45-yard (length of the field) touchdown pass from Bogenschutz to Goree, who added a two-point grab for a 14-7 halftime advantage.

Keldrean "Poodie" Strong, who led Carthage with five catches for 45 yards, extended the Bulldogs' lead to 21-7 with his three-yard touchdown catch to start the second half. Marshall twice cut the lead to a single possession, but Bogenschutz found Rutherford for a one-yard, back-shoulder touchdown late in the game for a 32-21 edge.

Both Marshall quarterbacks looked much better in the second game. Hart completed 13 of 18 passes for 115 yards and a score, while Jaque Kuykendall, who caught two passes for 25 yards, was 5-for-6 for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Love had a game-high six catches for 51 yards and one touchdown, while Mitchell Leonard caught four passes for 71 yards and one score.

Goree led Carthage with four grabs for 88 yards and a score. Rutherford caught four passes for 38 yards and one touchdown. Carthage senior tailback Tevin Pipkin, who had missed all of Carthage's previous 7-on-7 action with a hamstring injury, had three catches for 26 yards. Jackson caught two passes for 42 yards.

Carthage will compete in the Division II 7-on-7 state tournament July 11-12 at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander.