CAREY - The defending state champion Carey Panthers entered Saturday's state quarterfinal game facing a team they beat by 26 points earlier in the season. They were also looking forward to some potential revenge against Mackay in the semifinals.

Then North Gem scored the first 12 points of the game.

Carey suddenly got very focused on the task at hand.

The Panthers scored 36 unanswered points, dominating the second half to defeat the Cowboys 36-12 in quarterfinals of the Class 1A Division II football playoffs.

"We started slow and may have overlooked them a little," said senior Dillon Simpson, who scored a pair of touchdowns.

A fumbled snap on a punt led to the Cowboys' first score. Quarterback Austin Wuttke hit Taylor Askew on the screen taking advantage of the hard-charging Panther defense.

Carey tallied a few first downs on each of its first four drives, but couldn't sustain anything. The Panthers also struggled on kickoffs, fumbling three times to start deep in their own territory.

Wuttke found Tyler McLain for a 53-yard score and the Panthers found themselves down by a dozen.

Then things turned.

Gonzalo Zarate blocked a North Gem punt and gained 18 yards on the next play. Simpson took it in the final 5 as Carey finally got on the board.

"I just didn't want to lose. We have been in Holt the past three years. We have a tradition here," said Zarate, who was a constant defensive presence in the Cowboy backfield, recording two sacks.

The Panthers had a shot to take the lead at the half, but a one-handed leaping interception grab by North Gem's Askew ended the threat.

It didn't take long for Carey to get another chance. A Cowboy fumble led to a Zarate 3-yard TD run. He then scooped up another fumbled punt from the 5 and the Panthers led 24-12.

"I didn't want them to score again. The seniors have been through a lot and we want to keep going," Zarate said.

Simpson added the final score, picking off Wuttke in the final minutes and returning it 63 yards. He nearly had another earlier in the quarter.

"I figured he would throw it up. I had blockers and just ran as fast as I could. I wanted to make up for the one I missed," said Simpson, who added that the Panthers made key defensive adjustments to thwart the Cowboys.

Caleb Cenarrusa came in at quarterback and tallied over 50 yards in the air while scoring on a 3-yard run.

"The line blocked well, I had time and the receivers executed the routes," said Cenarrusa.

The Panthers will now get another shot at Mackay, who handed them their only loss the past two seasons with a 26-22 victory in Sept. 18. The key for Carey in the rematch is stopping Mackay quarterback Kole Krosch.

"We need better pass coverage and to start well. We can't have another slow start," said Simpson.

Note: Late in the game play was stalled as North Gem's Josh Askew was taken from the field in an ambulance with a neck injury. No information on his condition was available.

Carey 36, North Gem 12

North Gem 6 6 0 0 - 12

Carey 0 8 16 12 - 36

First Quarter

North Gem - Taylor Askew 10 pass from Austin Wuttke (run failed) 0:50

Second Quarter

NG - Tyler McLain 53 pass from Wuttke (run failed) 8:25

Carey - Dillon Simpson 5 run (Wacey Barg pass from Caleb Cenarrusa) 3:42

Third Quarter

C - Gonzalo Zarate 3 run (Simpson run) 8:16

C - Zarate 5 yard fumble return (Brett Adamson pass from Cenarrusa) 6:41

Fourth Quarter

C - Cenarrusa 3 run (run failed) 6:47

C - Simpson 63 yard interception return (run failed) 4:01