(Photo Credit To Eric Mattson)
The Mexico Bulldogs have advanced to the semifinals of the high school football playoffs after defeating the Fulton Hornets 59-42 tonight (Friday).
It was a shootout all night between the 2 North Central Missouri Rivals.
Fulton would score on their first possession of the game going 63 yards in 2 minutes and 6 seconds capped off by a 9 yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Josh Reams making it 7-0.
Mexico would answer back quickly on their first possession.
The Bulldogs only needed thirty two seconds to score capped off by a 55 yard td run by Dante Billups.
Mexico would miss the extra point and it Fulton maintained a 7-6 lead.
The Hornets would fumble on their second possession and Mexico would recover and score off a 35 yard rushing touchdown from Anthony Shivers giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at at 13-6 in the first quarter.
Isiah Reams would give Mexico their next score with a 8 yard touchdown run with just thirty two seconds left in the 1st quarter and it was Mexico 19-7.
Fulton would outscore Mexico in the 2nd quarter 14-13.
The Bulldogs would take a 32-21 lead into halftime.
Mexico put together a long drive to start off the 3rd quarter with 12 plays and taking 5 minutes and 33 seconds off the clock that would end with a 1 yard quarterback keep from Ty Simms.
Mexico was up 39-21 late in the 3rd quarter.
The Hornets would recover an onside kick and take just 21 seconds to answer back with a 58 yards touchdown reception by Courtland Simmons.
Fulton trailed 39-28 with 5:56 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Hornets would cut the deficit to 39-35 when Josh Reams cashed in on a 1 yard run recording his second touchdown of the night.
That was as close as it would get.
Fulton would go for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter however were stopped when Shannon Dorsey sacked Fulton quarterback Courtland Simmons.
Mexico would score one more time in the fourth quarter making the final 45-35.
Dante Billups finished the game with 194 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Isiah Reams put up 92 yards on the ground and caught 2 passes for 25 yards and had 1 touchdown.
Anthony Shivers had 71 yards and 2 touchdowns.
And quarterback Ty Sims went 4 for 7 passing for 101 yards, and 33 yards on the ground for 2 touchdowns.
The 3rd seeded Mexico Bulldogs travel to Hannibal to face the 2nd seeded Pirates in the semifinals of the high school playoffs next week.