MEXICO In a rematch that delivered on its shootout potential, the Fulton Hornets scrapped but came up short in extending their season.
The sixth-seeded Hornets were outscored 20-14 in the fourth quarter in falling to the No. 3 Mexico Bulldogs 59-42 in Friday night's Class 4, District 4 quarterfinal.
Fulton finishes the season 1-9; Mexico (5-4) will play at No. 2 seed Hannibal in one semifinal next week. The Hornets drew the game to within 39-35 on sophomore running back Josh Reams' 1-yard score with 7:23 left in the game. The Bulldogs went off script on their next play with a play-action pass from sophomore Ty Sims to senior Shannon Dorsey for a 49-yard score to regain the two-score lead at 45-35.
The Mexico defense came up with a pair of sacks of Fulton sophomore quarterback Courtland Simmons, including a 5-yard takedown by Dorsey on fourth down on the ensuing possession to regain the ball. Sims would polish off the next drive with a 1-yard keeper to extend the lead, and senior Dante Billups' 20-yard touchdown run with 2:14 left concluded the Bulldogs' scoring.
Simmons hit junior wide receiver Brynn Bynum on a 54-yard touchdown pass with a second left for the Hornets' final score.
After Fulton took a quick lead in the first quarter, Mexico produced 25 unanswered points to jump in front. A 45-yard run by Billups pulled the Bulldogs to within 7-6 after the missed extra point, then a fumble by the Hornets two plays into their next possession led to sophomore Anthony Shivers' 32-yard scoring run to put Mexico in front 13-7.
After a Fulton punt, the Bulldogs ran just over 5 minutes off the clock on a 13-play, 82-yard scoring drive. Junior Isaiah Reams extended the Mexico edge to 19-7 early in the second quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run. Billups polished the ensuing drive off with a 2-yard run to push Mexico to a 25-7 advantage less than 3 minutes into the second quarter.
Simmons responded by blowing by the Bulldogs' defense for a 58-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 25-14. Shivers added to Mexico's lead with a 5-yard run late in the first half, while Simmons and James Walker connected on a 16-yard touchdown toss to make it 32-21 at half.
Sims scored on another 1-yard run to extend the lead to 39-21 in the third quarter, but a 58-yard reception by Simmons from sophomore backup quarterback Dustin Hagens drew the Hornets within 39-28 to start the fourth quarter.