CARTHAGE — The only thing that made it evident on Friday night that Patrick Carlton began the year as a second-string quarterback was the cast on Zeke Sappington's right hand.
Getting his second start under center in place of the injured senior Sappington, Carlton sparked the Carthage Tigers to a 42-7 Central Ozark Conference rout over the Branson Pirates at David Haffner Stadium.
Carlton had four touchdowns, 141 rushing yards on 17 carries and completed 5-of-6 passes for 78 yards. All of that came in the first half as Tigers coach Jon Guidie rested starters after halftime with the lead already at 42-0.
Carlton, a sophomore, averaged 8.3 yards per carry and twice converted 2-point attempts following his own scores.
"Our offense tonight, it was unstoppable," Carlton said. "We couldn't be stopped. And I've got a great offensive line. (I could) stand back there and throw the ball all day if we had to. I'm really comfortable with our team. I've got a lot of practice with them, and it should be a great season moving on."
Needless to say, Guidie was more than pleased with the play of his backup quarterback, who he said he figures will get "a few weeks" of starts while Sappington is out.
"It's his second week, and he's just going to get better and better," Guidie said. "He's going to get more comfortable; the game's going to slow down for him. It's a tough spot to come in last week (against Webb City), you know. He's a very gifted player. He just needs reps and needs experience, and he's got a really good future ahead of him."
Carthage (5-1, 5-1 COC) was also without first-string running back Tyler Mueller but still managed to move the chains as Blake Schrader scored the Tigers' first two touchdowns in the first quarter. Schrader added 45 yards on nine carries, also playing only the first half. Carthage's offense did not have a drive that ended without points until only eight minutes remained in third quarter — its first possession of the second half.
The Tigers' defense also held the Pirates (2-4, 2-4) to just 64 yards in the first half and 173 overall.
Guidie said the win was a good bounce back after Carthage suffered its first loss of the year to Webb City, 21-12.
"We told them that this week was going to be a character test," he said. "We'd see the kind of character that we had, and I think it showed out tonight, for sure."
The Tigers will host Willard next Friday night, 7:00 kickoff.

Carthage 42, Branson 7
Branson       0    0    7    0 -   7
Carthage    13  29   0     0 - 42

First Quarter - Car-Blake Schrader 18 yard run (kick failed), 10:01
First Quarter - Car-Schrader 5 yard run (Marcus Huntley kick), 9:49
First Quarter - Car-Patrick Carlton 4 yard run (pass failed), 3:19
Second Quarter - Car-Carlton 2 yard run (Kale Schrader pass from Carlton), 11:12
Second Quarter - Car-Carlton 4 yard run (Carlton run), 1:39
Second Quarter - Car-Carlton 4 yard run (Huntley kick), 0:56.8
Third Quarter - Bran-Chase Moody 1 yard run (Justice Webber kick), 4:02

-Jordan Larimore, Joplin Globe