The Carroll Cougars defeated the Frontier Falcons 49-21 to advance to the second round of Sectional 42 in the IHSAA 1A State Tournament.
The Cougars and Falcons traded scores on their first two drives. Carter Mullins ran in a short touchdown for Carroll and Chase Winkler beat his man for a 41-yard touchdown catch for Frontier.
On the ensuing possession, Emery Deaton took the first play 57 yards for a touchdown. After a Frontier punt, Eli Falkenberg caught a deep pass and was able to hold off a defender and reach the endzone.
After an Owen Zinn interception, Falkenberg got on the board again, this time with a spectacular catch in the corner of the endzone to put the Cougars up 28-7.
Frontier put together a late in the second quarter, and quarterback Reid Duncan found receiver Beau Dazey across the middle for a seven-yard score. The Falcons then converted an onside kick attempt, but Cayson Fellows intercepted a pass on a trick play to end the half.
In the second half, Fellows picked off another pass, this one in the red zone. The Cougars took the ball down and scored on 30-yard rushing touchdown a few plays later.
Leading 35-14, the Cougars got the ball back with 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter, and Emery Deaton got in on a 25-yard run for his second touchdown of the game.
Owen Zinn picked off another pass to start the fourth quarter, leading to an Aiden Wiles rushing touchdown.
The Falcons got on the board one final time late in the fourth, as Reid Duncan called his own number from 3 yards out.
The Cougars kneeled out the remainder of the clock and left victorious 49-21.
Carroll will move on to face Pioneer in the semifinals of Sectional 42. The Panthers of Pioneer defeated Caston 20-7 in their opening-round win.
Fans will be able to listen to the Carroll vs Pioneer game on WILO 96.9 FM, 1570 AM and Boone 102.7.