CARTHAGE — Carthage Bulldogs began their quest for a fourth straight state 3A championship Friday with a 43-12 win over Jacksonville Indians.

Carthage took a 7-0 lead with 9:48 left in the first on a 1-yard run by Blake Bogenschutz.

The Indians, who finished 7-4 in District 14-4A last season, made it 7-6 four minutes later on a 3-yard carrying by Ladarius Session.

That would be the last play the Indians would challenge in the game.

Carthage’s Bogenschutz threw back-to-back touchdown passes of 11 and 14 yards in the span of 1:16 to give the Bulldogs a 20-6 lead at the end of the first.

Carthage added nine more points in the second on a 32-yard field goal by Jimmy Gonzalez and a 12-yard run by Tevin Tipkin.

The Bulldogs made it 43-6 at the end of the third quarter on touchdown runs by Justin Williams and D.K. Calloway.

The Indians, who play Texas High in Texarkana Friday, closed out the scoring in the fourth on a 17-yard pass from Andrew Black to Kedarrius Buckingham.