Republic came out strong against heavily favored Webb City, and played close with the defending state champs for most of the first half, before the Cardinals took advantage of Republic mistakes and exploded to a 42-0 win.
After the Tigers punted on their first possession, the defense sacked Webb City twice, forcing a punt. Republic took the ball and drove inside the Webb City 30, before a sack ended the drive. A couple of plays later, the Cardinals’ Phoenix Jones took a pitch around the right side and went 92 yards for the first score of the game. The Cardinals didn’t make the two-point conversion, and it was 6-0 with 5:43 left in the first quarter.
It looked like Republic would stay in the game, and maybe even have a chance to take the lead into halftime, before Webb City scored three quick touchdowns. The first came on a 20-yard pass from Breckin Williams to Kohl Slaughter. A 12-yard touchdown run by Johnson made it 21-0. And after Republic fumbled a kickoff, Webb City scored two plays later to make it 28-0 at halftime.
The Tigers had a chance to get back in the game after Tanner Reichert recovered a fumble and returned it to the Webb City 1-yard-line early in the 3rd quarter. But an illegal procedure penalty moved the ball back to the 6-yard line, and the Tigers couldn’t capitalize. Webb City stopped Republic on downs, and drove the length of the field to make it 35-0 on a 2-yard run by Jamison Cody.
A fourth-quarter touchdown by the Cardinals accounted for the final score.
Republic managed only 93 total yards of offense. They were led by Jake Laswell with 16 carries and 57 yards rushing.
The Tigers fall to 2-4 this season. Webb City remains undefeated at 6-0.
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