CARTHAGE — It's going to feel strange for a program accustomed to playoff appearances, but for the first time in seven years, Diboll Lumberjack football fans will be staying home when the post season begins in November.

Needing to win each of their final two games just to make the playoffs, the 'Jacks had all the suspense removed with a 54-25 loss to Carthage Friday night in Carthage.

Bulldog quarterback Anthony Morgan's brilliant night included six touchdowns, five through the air and another on the ground, in keeping Carthage a perfect 9-0 on the season. Morgan completed 11 of 12 passes for 316 yards and the five scores went to five different receivers. He also added a 1-yard touchdown run to cap his big night.

An outmanned Lumberjack team gave the Bulldogs all they had, accumulating solid offensive numbers in a losing effort. Diboll rolled up 20 first downs and 321 yards rushing, including 116 from Kamran McCollum and another 91 from Terrance Taylor.

However, the Bulldogs, like previous opponents, were able to exploit a young and inexperienced Lumberjack defense. Carthage's balanced offensive attack included 353 yards through the air and 238 on the ground. So efficient was the Bulldog attack, the offense never punted the entire game.

Despite a dubious beginning, the Lumberjacks came out ready to play, scoring on their opening drive by driving 99 yards after a muffed kickoff return put them in a hole on their own 1-yard line. McCollum capped the drive with a 7-yard run on third-and-goal to give the 'Jacks a quick lead.

Diboll then recovered an onside kick, but Carthage forced a three-and-out on the ensuing series. Morgan connected on four straight passes, the last to Gary Nutt for an 11-yard score. The PAT missed, leaving the Lumberjacks with a 7-6 lead.

Carthage then scored another 27 unanswered points to close out the half, and basically sign off on the end of the Lumberjacks' post-season hopes. Second-half scores by McCollum, Taylor and De'Adrian Haynes weren't enough to close the gap, with Morgan tossing his fifth scoring pass and running for another behind a line that had given him more than enough time to pick apart the Diboll secondary.

By night's end, Carthage had run just 32 plays in accumulating those 591 yards of total offense. With the win, Carthage ensures at least a tie for the district title.

Diboll will close out its season Friday at Lumberjack Stadium against Rusk. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Carthage 54, Diboll 25

Score by quarters

Carthage 12 21 14 7— 54

Diboll 7 0 12 6— 25

Scoring summary

First quarter

Diboll — Kamran McCollum, 7 run (Cody Stifle kick), 5:50, 1st.

Carthage — Gary Nutt, 11 pass from Anthony Morgan (PAT missed), 3:31, 1st.

Carthage — O'Bryan Washington, 19 run (2-pt. attempt failed), :54, 1st.

Second quarter

Carthage — Trevor Murphy, 56 pass from A. Morgan, (Francisco Monreal kick), 8:22, 2nd.

Carthage — Edward Pope, 22 pass from A. Morgan (Monreal kick), 2:57, 2nd.

Carthage — Jalen Claiborne, 20 pass from A. Morgan (Monreal kick), 1:34, 2nd.

Third quarter

Diboll — K. McCollum, 6 run, (PAT failed), 11:23, 3rd.

Carthage — A. Morgan, 1 run, (Monreal kick), 9:47, 3rd.

Carthage — Courtlyn Ware, 74 pass from A. Morgan (Monreal kick), 5:34, 3rd.

Diboll — Terrance Taylor, 6 run (2-pt. attempt failed), :31, 3rd.

Fourth quarter

Carthage — Clint Cage, 30 run (Monreal kick), 2:39, 4th.

Diboll — De'Adrian Haynes, 9 run (PAT missed), :31, 4th.

Team statistics

Diboll Cart

First downs 20 12

Rushes 58-321 17-238

Passing yards 88 353

Passes, Comp, Att, Int 5-9-1 12-15-0

Punts 5-41 0

Fumbles 2-0 2-0

Penalties 11-81 5-30

Individual statistics

Rushing — Diboll: Terrance Taylor, 26-91, Kamran McCollum, 18-116, Chris Bailey, 7-65, De'Adrian Haynes, 5-49; Carthage: O'Bryan Washington, 3-94, Tamonte Hines, 5-39.

Passing — Diboll: K. McCollum, 4-7-55-1-0, C. Bailey, 1-2-33-0-0; Carthage: Anthony Morgan, 11-12-316-5-0, Hunter Walden, 1-3-37-0-0.

Receiving — Diboll: Cody Stifle, 2-52, Christian Lovelady, 1-33, Eli Hernandez, 1-4, Terrance Taylor, 1-(-1). Carthage: Edward Pope, 5-119, Courtlyn Ware, 1-74, Trevor Murphy, 1-56, Jalen Claiborne, 2-43.