CARTHAGE — In a showdown between one of the state's elite and one of the state's up-and-coming programs, it was the defending state champs who came out on top.
But the head coach of the up-and-coming program thinks championship days could be in his team's future.
Carthage (8-0) clinched the Central Ozark Conference title with an undefeated regular season thanks to a 35-12 win over Nixa (7-2) in a game that could have created a tie atop the league's standings.
"I will not forget this whooping we took," Nixa head coach John Perry said. "I have a pretty good memory and we'll get better, I promise you.