Rockdale dug itself a big first-half deficit, committed costly turnovers and simply never recovered as Carthage trounced the Tigers 55-28 in a Class 3A Division II Region III semifinal Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Bulldogs (11-2) advanced to face Gilmer (11-1) or West Orange-Stark (10-0), who meet today in Lufkin. The Tigers, who finished second in District 24-3A, finished 9-3.
“We came out and played (with) a little deer-in-the-headlights look,” Rockdale coach Jeff Miller said. “(We had) just no breaks and mistakes against a really, really good football team - hands-down, the best one we’ve seen this year.”
Rockdale simply had no answer for Carthage’s balanced offensive attack.
Carthage picked up yards in big chunks, racking up 441 yards, including 257 in the first half and 14 first downs. The only stops Rockdale forced were an interception late in the second half and a turnover on downs with the game well in hand.
Running back Dwight Smith and quarterback Si’Darius Blackshire did most of the damage, scoring six of the Bulldogs’ eight touchdowns.
Smith finished with 190 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries, and Blackshire completed 14 of 26 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Those two had a hand in four of the Bulldogs’ five first-half touchdowns. Carthage struck quickly, scoring three TDs in the first eight minutes en route to a 34-7 halftime lead.
Smith had 127 yards and three scores on 12 carries in the first half.
The Tigers never were able to move the ball, thanks to three turnovers and penalties, until they trailed 34-0. Carthage bottled up running backs Cois Walker and Greg Chelf, and quarterback Mark Drake faced pressure and was sacked three times in the first half.
The Tigers finally got on the board with 42 seconds left in the first half on a 13-yard pass from Drake to Lance Loewe.
Rockdale’s slim chances of a second-half comeback were snatched away in the opening minutes when the Tigers fumbled on the second play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Smith took the ball 58 yards for a touchdown and a 41-7 lead on his final carry.
The Tigers moved the ball with ease in the second half, but it was too little, too late.
Drake had two touchdown passes and ran for one score. He finished 22-of-34 for 251 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. Walker and Chelf rushed for a combined 88 yards, and Joe Sanders had seven catches for 86 yards and two scores.
“I’m really proud of how hard they played,” Miller said. “We’ve got to learn from this and move forward. Hopefully we’ll keep taking those steps and we’ve made some major strides."
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
