CARTHAGE, Texas - There's always ebb and flow during the rebuilding phase of a program.
The Leopards (0-2) fell to the Bulldogs (2-0) at Bulldog Stadium Friday night, 49-7.
"Carthage is an extremely good football team," Liberty-Eylau head coach Klint King said. "They're also extremely disciplined.They are where they are because of how they prepare every day. That's the goal of where we want to be as a football team."
Kel Williams caught a 23-yard strike from Kai Horton, giving the Bulldogs a seven-score lead over the Leopards before the half, 49-7.
The score did not change in the second half.
Kelvontay Dixon caught his second touchdown pass of the half from Horton on a 69-yard slant, giving the Bulldogs a 42-7 cushion with 3:27 left before halftime.
Mason Courtney scored his second touchdown of the half on a 10-yard dash up the middle with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter.
Montrell Smith caught a 2-yard dart from Horton, giving Carthage the three-score advantage midway through the second quarter.
Phillips kicked the extra point for the Bulldogs, 28-7, with 7:03 before the half.
Horton completed 15 of 26 passes for five touchdowns and 224 yards.
"There's no excuses," King said. "If we come out and take care of us, execute and continue to get better everyday, we'll get where we want to be. It's on us to take care of the fundamentals and do what we're coached to do. As long as we say disciplined, we'll be alright."
Dixon caught a 25-yard pass from Horton and weaved through the L-E defense on the sideline, upping the Bulldogs' lead in the second quarter with 10:07 remaining before intermission.
Phillips booted the extra point for Carthage, his third conversion of the game in as many attempts.
The Bulldogs were able to jump on the scoreboard on their opening possession, after Leopards penalties continued their drive.
Courtney punched in a 1-yard touchdown dive and Brennan Phillips booted the extra point to give Carthage the early edge, 7-0.
The Bulldogs reached the end zone for the second time in the opening quarter after Quinton Owens caught a 2-yard toss from Kai Horton on Carthage's naked bootleg.
Phillips split the extra point down the middle to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 cushion with 1:03 left in the initial quarter.
On the following possession, L-E's Korbyn White took a slant route from Parker Goodman 50 yards, outrunning the Bulldog defense for the Leopards' first score of the game.
Goodman completed 3 of 9 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Gregorio Aguilar booted the extra point for Liberty-Eylau, slicing Carthage's lead to one score, 14-7.