JASPER -- Seventh-ranked Carthage fought its way out of a 14-point first-quarter hole with a potent rushing attack in a 41-26 win at Jasper to clinch the District 20-3A championship.

Senior tailback Tevin Pipkin ran 28 times for 236 yards and two touchdowns, while senior quarterback Blake Bogenschutz ran 15 times for a career-high 126 yards and three touchdowns as Carthage (8-1, 3-0) clinched its sixth district crown in seven seasons under head coach Scott Surratt, who improved to 31-1 in league play with the Bulldogs since his arrival in 2007.

Carthage accumulated 384 rushing yards to finish with almost 600 total yards. Bogenschutz complemented his career night on the ground with 213 passing yards, including an eight-yard touchdown to senior receiver O'Keeron Rutherford that gave Carthage the lead for good, 21-20, with 44 seconds left in the second quarter.

Carthage's O'Keeron Rutherford turns upfield after a catch during Friday night's 41-26 win at Jasper. (Bud Worley, ETSN.fm)
Carthage's O'Keeron Rutherford turns upfield after a catch during Friday night's 41-26 win at Jasper. (Bud Worley, ETSN.fm)
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Pipkin's 236-yard night pushed him north of the 1,000-yard mark for the season. He also caught four passes for 42 yards, including a key third-down conversion that kept a drive alive and led to Bogenschutz' third touchdown run of the night, a one-yarder for a 41-20 Carthage lead with 8:54 remaining.

Bogenschutz enters next week's home game against Diboll with more than 2,600 passing yards, 35 touchdown throws, and only three interceptions.

Rutherford caught three passes for 49 yards, while fellow senior Terian "Tee" Goree led all receivers with seven catches for 122 yards. Goree now has 60 receptions for more than 1,100 yards and an East Texas-leading 19 touchdown catches.

Jasper built a 14-0 lead thanks to a strong rushing attack and two empty Carthage red-zone possessions to start the game.

Jasper senior tailback Terrance "Tiki" Cuney had a huge game with 26 carries for a game-high 261 yards and three touchdowns, including a 91-yarder for the early two-score lead less than halfway through the opening period.

Carthage scored the next two touchdowns on short Bogenschutz runs for a 15-14 edge before regained the lead 20-15 on a 24-yard touchdown receiver Randy Spikes on a double-reverse pass to fellow senior receiver Zach Craig.

Jasper's Zach Craig hauls in a touchdown pass during Friday night's 41-26 home loss to Carthage. (Bud Worley, ETSN.fm)
Jasper's Zach Craig hauls in a touchdown pass during Friday night's 41-26 home loss to Carthage. (Bud Worley, ETSN.fm)
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Carthage then staged a 26-0 run to take control of the game. Carthage ended the first half with the aforementioned Bogenschutz-to-Rutherford touchdown strike before Pipkin ran for both of his touchdowns (10, 6) in the third quarter for a 34-20 advantage.

Jasper scored a late touchdown on Cuney's 10-yard run with 4:15 remaining to narrow Carthage's victory margin to 15 points.

Jasper senior quarterback Steven Walker completed 7 of 17 passes for 107 yard and an interception, which went to Carthage senior cornerback Keldrean Strong. Carthage had the two fruitless red-zone possessions early in the game, but did not commit a turnover, winning the takeaway battle 3-0 thanks to the interception and two fumble recoveries from senior linebacker Tra Leary.

Senior tight end Shawn Jones caught three passes for 78 yards to lead Jasper.

The loss dropped Jasper to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in District 20-3A entering Jasper's road trip to Huntington next week. A win guarantees Jasper the No. 2 Division I playoff seed from 20-3A.

-- Stats courtesy the Panola Watchman

Jasper's Terrance "Tiki" Cuney finished with a game-high 261 rushing yards in Friday night's 41-26 home loss to Carthage. (Bud Worley, ETSN.fm)
Jasper's Terrance "Tiki" Cuney finished with a game-high 261 rushing yards in Friday night's 41-26 home loss to Carthage. (Bud Worley, ETSN.fm)
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