Prep Football: Dogs Do It Again

Harrisburg used takeaways and big performances from Tylor Marler and Kane Carrigan on its way to taking down Boonville, Ind. 34-20 Friday night at Taylor Field.

With the victory, the Bulldogs (2-1) improved over the .500 mark as they head into another home contest and conference opener with West Frankfort in Week 4.

"I'm happy as can be for the kids," said Harrisburg coach Al Way. "They've continued to work hard, they've continued to come to practice. I think we are getting a little better. We still have a tendency to make crucial mistakes at the wrong time. There are things that we are still struggling to correct. I know it sounds like all I do is complain, but I'm thinking long-term to be really good, we have got to keep getting better and we've got to keep correcting our mistakes."

Marler led the way on the ground with 215 yards on 20 carries and scored three times.

Carrigan scored two touchdowns of his own and racked up 123 rushing yards.

After HHS fell behind 6-0 five plays into the evening, Carrigan hurdled his way into the endzone less than four minutes later. An extra point from Reece Owen then gave the Bulldogs their first lead.

A little later, Carrigan broke his second score of the game, this time from 78 yards out, which extended the lead to 15-6.

Boonville (2-2) pulled to within 15-12 early in the second quarter with an 11-yard score from Braiden Burton.

Burton finished with 65 yards, but the Pioneers were led in rushing by junior Camden Cartwright's 238 yards and two scores.

Cartwright did have to leave the game late in the fourth period with an ankle injury.

The first of three scores from Marler helped push the HHS lead to 22-12 just before intermission.

Out of halftime, Marler put Harrisburg in front 28-12 with a 29-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.

The Pioneers still managed to keep hanging around and after an 18-yard scamper and a two-point conversion from Cartwright, Boonville had pulled to within 28-20 late in the third.

Defensively, Harrisburg did allow 344 yards of offense, but forced six Boonville turnovers.

"Our defense gave up a lot of yardage, but they made some great plays when they had to," said Way. "Our secondary played so well. I thought we got a really good pass rush out of our defensive ends."

Aaron Stephens picked off two passes and recovered a fumble for the Bulldogs.

Sophomore Blake Drue made a pivotal fumble recovery with 3:34 left in the contest when Boonville was driving for a potential game-tying score inside the redzone.

Following that turnover, Marler all but sealed the deal with an 80-yard score to cap off his big evening.

With the SIRR-Ohio slate up next, Way said he is optimistic with how his team has gotten out of the gate.

"I guess what you have to do is look back and think we were one play away from getting beat last week (against Du Quoin). Tonight's game was back and forth. So you could really sit here and think we could be 0-3," said Way. "And then the other way, you could say if we don't fumble three times against Mount Carmel and do some things better, we could be 3-0. Could be, should be and all that stuff, we are 2-1."‎

Boonville 6 6 8 0 - 20

Harrisburg 15 7 6 6 - 34

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

BHS - Cartwright 24 run (run failed), 9:57

HBG -Carrigan 17 run (Owen kick), 5:59

HBG -Carrigan 78 run (Vallette 2pt run), 2:28

Second Quarter

BHS -Burton 11 run (pass failed), 11:30

HBG - Marler 3 run (Owen kick), 0:16

Third Quarter

HBG - Marler 29 run (run failed), 6:23

BHS - Cartwright 18 run (Cartwright 2pt run), 2:23

Fourth Quarter

HBG- Marler 80 run (kick failed), 2:37

Team Statistics

BOON HBG

First Downs 16 19

Total Net Yards 344 429

Rushes-Yards 37-300 53-389

Passing 44 40

Comp-Att-Int 3-17-2 4-9-0

Penalties-Yards 4-25 2-15

Fumbles Lost 4 1

Individual Statistics

Rushing- BHS: Cartwright 20-238, Burton 11-65, Kirkland 3-(-7). HBG: Tylor Marler 20-215, Kane Carrigan 12-123, Noah Vallette 11-29, Aaron Stephens 8-24, Matt Upchurch 2-(-2).

Passing- BHS: Kirkland 3-17-2 44. HBG: Noah Vallette 4-9-0 40.

Receiving- BHS: Conner 2-38, Burton1-6. HBG: Corbin Crim-Harbison 2-21, Tylor Marler 2-19.