The Republic Tigers contained Hillcrest’s offense and star receiver Dorial Green-Beckham for most of the first half, but big plays eventually allowed the Hornets to pull away for a 35-7 win. The victory clinched a district title for Hillcrest.
Green-Beckham ended the game with 11 catches for 304 yards and four touchdowns. His performance allowed him to break the national high school record for career receiving yards.
The Hornets scored first on a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Hill. The score remained 7-0 until Green-Beckham broke a tackle and went 81 yards for another touchdown with 1:06 left in the half. That catch gave him the national receiving record.
Republic got on the board right before halftime. Nick Williams threw a 41-yard Hail Mary pass into the end zone, and Beau Allen came down with the ball just inside the end zone to make the halftime score 14-7. Through the first half, Republic had gained more total yards than Hillcrest.
The Hornets scored again early in the 3rd quarter, then late in the quarter, on two more touchdown passes to Green-Beckham, and they led 28-7 after three. A 4th quarter touchdown to Green-Beckham accounted for the final score.
The loss sends Republic on the road for the first round of the playoffs next Wednesday. The Tigers will travel to Union, who won a thriller over St. Clair 21-20. St. Clair scored a late touchown and went for a 2-point conversion with nine seconds left in the game, but Union intercepted a pass to seal the victory. St. Clair will visit Hillcrest.