For the second week in a row, an opposing runner gashed big holes in the Republic Tiger defense, as #4 Bolivar beat Republic 46-28. Senior running back Josh Moffett ran for 256 yards and three touchdowns behind Bolivar’s super-sized offensive line. The Liberators racked up 354 yards on the ground, and another 101 in the air, allowing their big linemen to wear down the Tiger defense.
Colton McCarty had a good night for the Tigers. He scored four touchdowns and had more than 170 all-purpose yards. McCarty’s first score came on a 59-yard pass from Blaze Carano during the Tigers’ opening drive, giving Republic a quick 7-0 lead. After Bolivar scored twice, a McCarty 3-yard run tied the game again at 14.
Bolivar responded with another scoring drive, going 80 yards in ten plays, and missed the extra point to lead 20-14.
The next drive for the Tigers, in the final minute of the half, might have been the key to the game. As Republic tried to mount a drive before halftime, Blaze Carano threw the ball over the middle. Bolivar’s Alex Talley picked it off and went 50 yards the other way for a touchdown, to give Bolivar a 26-14 lead at halftime.
Bolivar took the opening kickoff of the 2nd half and drove 84 yards for another touchdown. A 28-yard reception by Alex Talley capped the drive, and Bolivar led 33-14.
After another Carano interception, Moffett plunged into the end zone from one yard out to give the Liberators a 39-14 lead.
But the Tigers didn’t quit. They scored two quick touchdowns — on runs of 18 and 10 yards by McCarty — to make the score 39-28. The Republic defense got another stop, and the Tigers were moving the ball again, when Bolivar picked off another pass at their own 15 yard line to snuff out the Tigers’ chances. The Liberators marched 85 yards in 11 plays, and scored the final touchdown to put the game out of reach, 46-28.
Carano was 4-for-8 passing, for 126 yards for the Tigers. He threw for one touchdown, but was picked off three times. Ryan Sifferman led the Tigers rushing attack with 67 yards, to go along with McCarty’s 49 yards on the ground.
Bolivar quarterback Kolton Peavey was 6-for-12 passing, for 105 yards. He also ran for 55 yards. Alex Talley had 59 yards receiving for the Liberators, along with the key interception return for a touchdown just before halftime.
The Tigers are back in action next week at home, against Naval Junior ROTC.
(Thanks to Pam Hemphill for the photo of Tiger tailgaters before the game.)
