Carthage Erupts in Second Half to Take Down Previously-Unbeaten Stafford, 34-0

HUMBLE -- Carthage broke open a six-point game with 28 second-half points in a 34-0 shutout of previously-unbeaten Stafford in a Class 4A Division I area-round playoff Friday night at Turner Stadium.

Carthage (9-3) advanced to the Region III semifinals where it will face defending state champion and No. 1 Navasota (12-0) next week.

Bulldogs sophomore running back Keontay Ingram had a career night, running 11 times for 163 yards and two second-half touchdowns.

Carthage senior quarterback Jarod Blissett threw a pair of touchdown passes, and became the third quarterback in school history to eclipse 3,000 yards for a season with a 206-yard effort Friday.

Blissett also caught a 33-yard touchdown from sophomore receiver Hunter Townsend with 1:52 remaining in the opening half, which gave Carthage a 6-0 lead at halftime.

He then connected with Jakeldric Jackson on a 33-yard touchdown and Jarrod McLin on a 6-yard scoring connection in the second half, before Ingram put the game out of reach with touchdowns runs of 48 and 7 yards.

Carthage outgained Stafford (11-1), 420-281, on the night, while the Bulldogs' defense forced two Spartans turnovers.