High School

Carthage hammers West Orange-Stark in C4D1 Texas High School Football to secure title No. 11: Live score recap

The Carthage Bulldogs scores 3 times in 2nd quarter to pave way for 49-21 victory

Cody Thorn

Carthage players celebrate in the end zone during the 4A DII UIL Texas State Football Championship game against Waco La Vega on Friday, December 20, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Carthage players celebrate in the end zone during the 4A DII UIL Texas State Football Championship game against Waco La Vega on Friday, December 20, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. / Naomi Skinner/Times Record News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Carthage Bulldogs are in the state championship game for the seventh time this decade.

The defending Class 4A Division 2 champions will look to cap off a 16-0 season with a win against West Orange-Stark at 3 p.m., Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

So far, undefeated teams are 3-1 this week in the finals. 

Last year, the Bulldogs beat Waco La Vega, 28-14, for state title No. 10.

That is second all-time in UIL history and trails Aledo’s state record by two. 

What to know

Carthage’s first playoff berth came in 1943, but all 10 of the titles have came since 2008 under the guidance of Scott Surratt.

West Orange-Stark is in the finals for the first time since 2017. The Mustangs are 4-4 in previous trips to the finals. 

The Mustangs are 12-3 heading into his game and avenged a loss to Waco La Vega in the quarterfinals, 35-20, to help set the state to get to Arlington. La Vega beat West Orange-Stark, 44-20, in Week 3.

That was part of a 2-3 start for the Mustangs, winners of 10 in a row. West Orange-Stark opened this season with a win against Newton, another state finalist.

The two teams met in 2013, with the Bulldogs winning 28-14 in a quarterfinal game, a season that ended in Carthage winning the state title.

Who to know 

West Orange-Stark

QB Kwalin Dugas, jr. — He moved from defense to offense this year. He’s thrown for 1,030 yards and 4 touchdowns, while rushing for 676 yards and 10 scores.

RB Khelvy Jefferson, jr. — The offense runs through Jefferson, who had 2,365 yards on the year. He’s had 100 yards in 12 of the 15 games and has scored 34 touchdowns. 

RB Dylan Myers, sr. — A complimentary back, he’s scored 10 touchdowns on only 81 carries. His 636 yards rushing is third on the team.

WR Michael Turner III, sr. — He’s the top target in terms of yardage with 303 on 15 catches.

LB Anterrion Fontenot, jr. —  The District 9-4A D2 Defense player of the year last year has 151 tackles this year and 7 forced fumbles. 

LB Johnathan Johnson, sr. — His 105 tackles are second on the team.

DB Ja’Cuincy Walker, jr. — His 7 PBU and 3 INTs leads the team, while he has added 62 tackles.

Carthage

QB Jett Surratt sr. — He will likely suprass 10,000 yards passing in this game, needing only 88 to hit that milestone. He’s thrown for a career-best 3,488 yards this year. He’s entering this game with 49 touchdowns this year and 136 in his career.

RB KJ Edwards, sr. — The Texas A&M signee is averaging 13.9 yards per carry. He has 1,932 yards and 29 touchdowns this year. 

RB Benny Smith, sr. — He enters 72 yards away from 1,000 yards on the season and has 15 TDs.

WR Jaden Jeffress, jr. — The 6-foot-2 tight end has 43 catches for 788 yards and 10 TDs.

WR Junior Henderson, sr. — He’s the top pass catcher with 13 scores on 35 receptions. 

WR JD Edwards, so. — KJ’s little brother has 48 catches for 740 yards and 6 TDs.

LB Qui Beck, sr. — Texas A&M signee has 4 fumble recoveries, 7 pass breakups, 2 sacks, 10 QB hurries, 78 tackles and 6 TFL.

LB Carson Crawford, sr. — The Colorado signee is a 4-star recruit who is a tackling machine. He has 114 stops, 18 TFL, 6 sacks, 29 QB hurries

SS Tylin Williams, sr. — Has 100 tackles from the secondary.

CB Jace Harris, so. — Leads the Bulldogs with 5 INTs.

Pick 'Em Challenge

Tell us who you think will win the game with High School On SI's Pick 'Em Challenge

Where To Watch

You can watch it for free online through the Victory+ app.

LIVE UPDATES

Carthage gets the ball first

TOUCHDOWN! KJ Edwards with an 87-yard TD run. Carthage up 7-0. 30 seconds into the game.

TURNOVER! Carthage gets a stop on 4th down and gets the ball back at 5:33

The 87-yard TD was the 4th longest in UIL championship history; the previous 4th place holder was Edwards on an 86-yard TD run last year.

Carthage in the red zone again

End of 1st: Carthage 7, West Orange-Stark 0

Bulldogs at the 1-yard line when play resumes

2nd quarter

Offsides on Carthage; now 2nd and goal at the 6 instead of the 1

4th and goal coming up; Bulldogs going for it from the 4

Timeout by WOS before the play

Turnover on downs! stop by WOS at the 1-yard line. No carries for Edwards after he got the ball to the 1

TURNOVER! Qui Beck forces a fumble and Crawford recovers it for the Bulldogs with 9:03 left

Play under review

Also the sun is shining through so get ready for some of the CeeDee Lamb can't see the ball plays coming up

It is not a fumble; WOS ball still. 4th down coming up

Two flags on this play

Pass interference and offsides both on WOS

That came on a 4th and 4 and the pass was incomplete; now the Bulldogs get a first down with 6:40 left. Ball at 35-yard line

Pass interference in the end zone ? Flag just thrown by one official

The flag is waived off against WOS

TOUCHDOWN! Edwards with his 2nd TD run. 3:57 left in 2nd. 11-yard run and he was barely touched, even at all. Great job of blocking. Carthage 14-0.

Mustangs punt again; nearly had a long pass play but it was dropped

Carthage takes over with 2:43 left

TOUCHDOWN! 1-play drive. Surratt to Junior Henderson for 77 yards. 2:32 left. Carthage 21, West Orange-Stark 0

That was Surratt's 50th TD of the season

Another long pass play on a fake punt for WOS that was oh, so close but falls to the ground. Turnover on downs with 1:18 left

TOUCHDOWN! Surratt to Bryston Price for a 13-yard score and the Bulldogs score again. This time with 11 seconds left

Edwards called for unsportsmanlike after the play; now an NFL-like PAT for Carthage. Kick is good

Carthage 28, West Orange-Stark 0

Hafltime: Carthage 28, West Orange-Stark 0

3rd quarter

WOS gets the ball first but has to punt

Delay of game before the punt. 9:49 left

BLOCK PUNT AND TD! Tylin Williams with the block and scoops it up for about a 8-yard TD. 9:38 left

Flag on the play

TD stands; flag for unsportsmanlike call on Carthage for celebration

Williams is playing with a broken hand; broke it earlier in year; got healed; broke hand again and is playing with is heavily wrapped up right hand

Carthage 35, West Orange-Stark 0

WOS punts again and Carthage takes over with 7:22 left

Big play! Surratt to Henderson for 29 yards. Another 15 will be added after roughing the passer call on WOS

Ball at the WOS 33

Trickery for the Bulldogs. Surratt hands off to Edwards, who pitches to his brother, who throws it back to Surratt. Surratt then hits Cade Ross for a 25-yard gain. Ball at the 1.

TOUCHDOWN! Surratt to Crawford for a 1-yard score. 4:34. Crawford was hit at the 2. Broke free and kept moving his legs and scored. Carthage up 42-0.

End of 3: Carthage 42, West Orange-Stark 0

4th quarter

Carthage defense is punting again wit 9:41 left

Backups are now in for the Bulldogs

TOUCHDOWN! Benny Smith for a 52-yard TD run with 6:52 left. Carthage up 49-0

TOUCHDOWN! Dugas to Michael Turner III for an 11-yard score. Dugas bootlegs and rolls to his left and throws to an open Turner. 3:42 left. Carthage 49, West Orange-Stark 7

TURNOVER! Fumble by Carthage. J'Terrion Levi picks it up for WOS with 2:52 left

TOUCHDOWN! Dugas to Fontenot for a 29-yard TD. 2:43 left. Carthage 49, West Orange-Stark 14

TURNVOER! Another fumble by Carthage and WOS picks it up

Kenz'Lee Levi with the recovery with 2:33 left. Ball at the 18

Two minute timeout

Crazy stat: Coach Surratt has more state titles (11) than playoff losses (8)

TOUCHDOWN! On the first play back from a media timeout, Dugas hits Turner III for a 19-yard score. 1:53 left. Carthage 49, West Orange-Stark 21

FINAL: Carthage 49, West Orange-Stark 21

Defensive MVP: Tylin Williams

Offensive MVP: KJ Edwards -- for the 2nd year in a row

He is walking to get his MVP award on crutches; didn't know he was hurt

15,788 attendance for this game; less than the first game of the day

RECAP

Carthage rolled to state title No. 11 with a 49-21 win over West Orange-Stark.

Texas A&M signee KJ Edwards scored on an 87-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game and the Bulldogs (16-0) never trailed.

Edwards had 12 carries for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns, earning offensive MVP honors for the second year in a row.

Defensive back Tylin Williams had 11 tackles, blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown to earn defensive MVP honors for Carthage.

Jett Surratt went over the 10,000 yard passing mark by throwing for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Henderson had four catches for 126 yards to pace the receiving targets for the Bulldogs.

West Orange-Stark scored all three of its touchdowns in the final 4 minutes, two coming off turnovers by Carthage.

Kwalin Dugas threw only seven passees, but three of his five completions went for fourth-quarter touchdowns for the Mustangs.

Khelvy Jefferson hit the 100-yard mark again for WOS, with 25 totes for 121 yards. However, he was kept out of the end zone.

Published |Modified
Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

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