Carthage compounds Rusk Eagle losses
Injuries confound Rusk Eagles
LELAND ACKER

Dustin Myers is tackled after making a four yard reception during the Rusk Eagles' loss to Carthage. Myers caught two passes for four yards.

CARTHAGE - Former Eagles planning to attend Friday's Homecoming game against the Huntington Red Devils may likely see a different line-up of Eagles than has been present in previous weeks. Rusk has suffered numerous injuries during the opening weeks of District 20-3A action.

Prior to Rusk's 50-0 loss to the Carthage Bulldogs, Eagle team members Quinn Anthony (fullback injured during the Diboll game), Ricky Rojo (kicker injured in the week prior to the Carthage game), John Trotter (injured during preseason workouts) and Chance Cleaver (wide receiver injured prior to Westwood game) were all seen on the sidelines in street clothes.

During the game, running backs Horrace Lewis, Demarcus Skinner and offensive linemen Matthew Davis and Nick Bradshaw suffered game ending injuries. Skinner, Lewis and Davis were injured from the bottom of dog piles, while Bradshaw was taken out of the game when he was blind-sided trying to stop Carthage's Richard Lyles from returning an interception for a touchdown.

Rusk defensive l back Cody Daniel (18) tackles a Carthage receiver during Rusk's 50-0 loss to the Bulldogs. Daniel served as a versatile player Friday, making several key defensive plays, three receptions for 28 yards and made his debut as the Eagles' punter. Rusk is now 1-6 on the season, 0-2 in district. PHOTOS: LYNN LITTLEJOHN

The devastating effect the injuries had on the line-up resulted in Rusk's loss to Carthage.

The Bulldogs controlled the game from the opening kickoff. Rusk was shut down on the opening possession. Cody Daniel stepped in to punt the ball, but it was snapped over his head. Daniel chased the ball into the Eagles' end zone before scooping it up and punting it away. His punt went far, but only two yards beyond the line of scrimmage.

Carthage took over at the Rusk 35 yard line, and scored 2:39 later.

Rusk did not make a first down until midway through the second quarter when Michael Katon completed passes to Skinner and J.J. Session before running two yards to convert a fourthand one play. His celebration would be short-lived, however, when he threw an interception into the hands of Lyles, who returned the ball 42 yards for a touchdown.

Rusk was able to build some momentum in the third quarter when Lewis carried the ball three times for 21 yards, but he was shaken up after a play, leaving Tony Teague to take over the rushing duties. Teague had to run behind a battered offensive line which resulted in his carries being totalled at no yardage.

Rusk began to move the ball in the fourth quarter, but that drive was halted when Katon threw his second interception of the evening, this time to Joe Jones.

The Eagle offense, despite being plagued with injuries, was able to gain 101 yards. Katon went 14-21-2 for 59 yards with Daniel being his favorite target. Daniel caught three passes for 25 yards.

Dustin Myers added two receptions for eight yards with Session making two for seven yards.

Lewis managed 35 yards on five carries averaging seven yards per carry.

The casualties to the offensive line were the achilles heel of the Eagle offense.

Rusk will face the Huntington Red Devils Friday at Eagle Stadium for the Eagles' Homecoming game. Huntington is 0-2 in district play.

This game is usually a "gimme" for the Eagles, but in a year when the varsity has been whittled down to a JV due to injuries, nothing is given.

The game will be broadcast on KTLU 1580 AM, Rusk Cable Channel 9 and www. teamline.cc. Pregame begins at 7:10 p.m.. Game Stats SCORING BY QUARTER

Rusk	0	0	0	0	--	0
Carthage 14		22	14	0	--	50

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter CARTHAGE - Si'Darius Blackshire 13 yd pass to Tavares Allison (kick good) 7:01 CARTHAGE - Rodney Chadwick 5 yd run (kick good) 3:37

Second Quarter CARTHAGE - Blackshire 21 yd pass to Gary Tatum (Blackshire run) 8:24 CARTHAGE - Richard Lyles 42 yd interception return (kick good) 4:55 CARTHAGE - Blackshire 9 yd pass (kick good) :27

Third Quarter CARTHAGE - Jarvin Robinson 51 yd run (kick good) 11:33 CARTHAGE - Joe Jones 20 yd pass to Caleb Pope (kick good) :57

	Rusk	Carthage
First downs	6	13
Rushes/yds	17-42	22-283
Passing yds	59	84
Total yardage	101	367
C/A/I	14-21-2	10-12-0
Fumbles/lost	1-1	0-0
Penalties/yds	6-40	8-85

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING - Rusk: Horrace Lewis 5-35, Marcell Johnson 2-5, Michael Katon 4-3. Carthage: Austin Smith 4-98, Gary Tatum 7-56. PASSING - Rusk: Katon 14-21-2 101. Carthage: Blackshire 9-13-0 64. RECEIVING - Rusk: Cody Daniel 3-28, Dustin Myers 2-8, J.J. Session 2-7, Johnson 2-6, Demarcus Skinner 2-6, Jared Colville 1-4. Carthage: Allison 3-43, Tatum 1-21. INTERCEPTIONS - Carthage: Lyles 1, Jones 1. NEXT UP: Huntington at Rusk, 7:30 p.m. Friday (KTLU 1508 AM).