GAME OF THE WEEK: Carl Junction is hosting Seneca

Published by Lucas Davis
GAME OF THE WEEK: Carl Junction is hosting Seneca

Zimmer Marketing is proud to present our Week 6 Game of the Week with Class 4 No. 9 Carl Junction hosting Class 3 No. 2 Seneca brought to you by JL Mobile Truck and Trailer Repair and Elements Construction Concepts.

The game is at Bulldog Stadium on John Roderique Field tonight at 7. This is the first time both teams have matched up against each other since Carl Junction left the Big 8 Conference for the Central Ozark Conference. Now, the chance to renew the rivalry is something both teams are looking forward to.

“I think this is a good game for our kids,” Carl Junction coach Todd Hafner said. “We need to find out where we are. Hopefully, we can match up with them well. 

“It’s been neat for our kids,” Seneca coach Cody Hillburn said. “We’ve talked to the kids about the history of this football game … and talked about the rivalry of the past. Our kids are aware of that and are excited  to go up there and play.”

Carl Junction is coming off a 42-13 win over Hillcrest in Ozark Mountain Conference action. 

Carl Junction rushed for 383 yards in the win as a team, totalling 424 yards of offense. Marcus Lopez-Durman rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries, while Tony Stewart finished with 15 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

“We’re expecting everything and more,” Hafner said ahead of the matchup with the Indians. “I think Coach Hillburn has a very, very good football team. They play hard, they’re tough and they execute. … They’re just a good football team. We will definitely have our hands full. I think it is going to be important to win the turnover battle and try to win some simulance of a field-position battle. 

Seneca is coming off a 56-14 rout of Aurora, scoring 14 unanswered points in the first period before taking a 49-7 lead into the intermission. Seneca cruised in the low-scoring second half.

The Indians gained 454 yards of offense, while the Houn’ Dawgs picked up just 215 yards of offense. Seneca rushed for 323 and passed for another 131.

Kaden Clouse passed for 124 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 20 yards and another score. Brodie Probert had 142 yards on the six carries to go along with two touchdowns. Roman Miller had 102 rushing yards and two scores on 13 rushes.

“Carl Junction is a very good football team,” Hillburn said. “That’s the thing you notice when you turn on film. There’s just not any holes. They’re good at every position, they’re sound and well coached. They’re on a streak where they haven’t given up more than 13 points in their last four games, so it’s going to be a challenge.”

OTHER AREA MATCHUPS

Class 5 No 4 Carthage vs. Joplin

Webb City @ Republic

Neosho vs. Willard

Class 4 No 7 Nevada @ Class 2 No 7 Lamar

McDonald County vs. Aurora

New Heights Christian vs Cornerstone

You can find all of this information at Joplin Sports Hub dot com.