Prep Football: Southern Boone gets past California

Southern Boone calls the coin toss correctly at the start of Friday night's district playoff game but elects to kick off to the California Pintos. The Eagles won the contest 48-21.
Southern Boone calls the coin toss correctly at the start of Friday night's district playoff game but elects to kick off to the California Pintos. The Eagles won the contest 48-21.

CALIFORNIA, Mo. - Sixth-seeded Southern Boone used four first-half turnovers to build an 18-0 lead Friday night on its way to a 48-21 win against the third-seeded California Pintos in the opening round of Class 3 District 6 action.

On the opening possession of the game, Southern Boone's Gannon Mueller intercepted a Jacob Wolken pass at the Pintos' 30-yard line, then turned that into points four plays later. Laron Wallace scored on a second-and-goal from the 4-yard line to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.

The teams traded a couple of fumble recoveries and punts before Southern Boone could add to the advantage. Early in the second quarter, the Eagles recovered their second fumble of the game, this time on the Pintos' 15-yard line. Wallace scored on the next play to push the lead to 12-0.

Southern Boone added its third touchdown two possessions later, scoring on a fourth-and-13 play from the Pintos' 17-yard line. Quarterback Spencer Taggart found Mueller on a wide receiver screen pass for the touchdown and the 18-0 lead.

On the opening possession of the second half, the Eagles moved the ball 72 yards on 11 plays to extend the lead to 26-0. A fourth-and-5 fake punt allowed the drive to continue, and Dane Bossert scored on a quarterback sneak four plays later from the 3-yard line.

Wolken found Landon Mouse for a 17-yard score to answer that drive, but Southern Boone countered with another touchdown to make it a 34-7 game.

Wide receiver Ethan Hodges added two late touchdown receptions for California. One was a 75-yard, one-handed catch from Wolken, and the other was a running back pass from Josh Woodruff for 73-yards.

The second touchdown cut the Eagles' lead to 42-21 midway through the fourth quarter.

Southern Boone iced the game with a touchdown with 1:27 left in the game to bring the game to its final score of 48-21, as Brandon Bowden pushed it in from the 5-yard line.