Hot start for Falcons in semifinal win

Blair Oaks running back Caleb Bischoff flattens Fulton's Lucas Gray in the first quarter of Friday night's Class 3
District 6 semifinal in Wardsville.
Blair Oaks running back Caleb Bischoff flattens Fulton's Lucas Gray in the first quarter of Friday night's Class 3 District 6 semifinal in Wardsville.

WARDSVILLE, Mo. - Less than 20 plays into Friday night's game, the Blair Oaks Falcons had scored 21 points.

They had to finish the final 43 minutes, but the game was over.

Blair Oaks dominated the Class 3 District 6 semifinal from the start and rolled to a 52-14 victory against the Fulton Hornets at the Falcon Athletic Complex.

"Our kids did a great job," Blair Oaks coach Brad Drehle said. "We came out and played fast and physical early."

With the win, Blair Oaks (9-2, ranked No. 8 in Class 3) will travel to California next Friday for the district title. California (11-0, ranked No. 2) advanced with a 63-6 victory Friday night against Southern Boone. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Falcons got on the board on the game's opening drive, marching 79 yards in seven plays. Mikel Drehle handled the scoring honors on an 11-yard run and the first of seven PATs by Chris Cooper made it 7-0.

The Blair Oaks defense got the Falcons back on the scoreboard three plays later. On third-and-10 from the Hornet 30, Fulton quarterback Sam Christensen was scrambling out of the pocket when he was hit and fumbled the football. Caleb Bischoff scooped it up and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.

The defense set up the offense for Blair Oaks' next score when an interception by Drehle gave the Falcons the ball at the Hornet 40. Five plays later, quarterback Jordan Hair scored on a 12-yard run and it was 21-0 just a little more than five minutes into the game.

Blair Oaks' next drive resulted in a missed field goal, but the Falcons resumed their scoring on the ensuing possession.

After stopping the Hornets. the Falcons took over at midfield. Bischoff carried the ball five times on the eight-play drive, including a 3-yard touchdown run that made it 28-0 just two plays into the second quarter.

Dominic Jamerson then got into the act for the Falcons. He intercepted a Christensen pass to give Blair Oaks the ball at its own 30 to end Fulton's next drive. He then ran for one yard on first down before ripping off a 69-yard gallop for a touchdown on the next play to make it 35-0.

Fulton got on the board on its next drive, going 58 yards in five plays. The first four netted 16 yards before Travis Dean rumbled 42 yards for a touchdown. Austin Wilson's PAT made it 35-7.

Blair Oaks got on the scoreboard twice more before halftime. The Falcons quickly answered the Hornets' score, needing just two plays. The touchdown came on a screen pass from Hair to Jamerson, who sprinted 46 yards for the touchdown.

Cooper then booted a 19-yard field goal with :03.4 remaining in the half to make it 45-7 at intermission.

"The kids came out focused and played really well," Brad Drehle said.

Blair Oaks finished the half with 394 total yards, 259 on the ground, and 15 first downs. Fulton totaled 96 yards and four first downs.

The Falcons wrapped up their scoring with 3:57 left in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Hair.

Fulton's other touchdown came with :46 remaining in the game on a 23-yard pass from Christensen to Noah Given.

Blair Oaks rushed 41 times for 351 yards. Bischoff led with 112 yards on 17 carries, while Jamerson had 100 yards on just five attempts, all in the first half. Hair was 9-of-16 through the air for 159 yards.

Fulton finished with 132 yards rushing on 31 attempts. Christensen was 12-of-21 passing for 94 yards.

Fulton ends its season at 6-5.

See also:

Missouri high school football scores for Oct. 31, 2014