Republic’s offense hit Willard with a flurry of punches in the first half, absorbed a Willard counter-attack, and outlasted Willard in a wild fourth quarter to escape with a 49-35 win Friday night. Republic rolled up a season-high point total and more than 500 yards of offense to spoil Willard’s homecoming.
Jerney Jones had 205 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Riley Watkins had 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns. And the two teamed up for the biggest play of the game–a 55-yard touchdown pass that turned the momentum back to Republic after Willard had cut into Republic’s 28-0 lead.
Three quick third-quarter touchdowns by Willard’s Hunter Yeargen had closed the gap to 28-21. Republic’s offense was on its heels and facing a 2nd and 16 from its own 45-yard line when Watkins lofted a rainbow pass into Jones’ arms. Jones took the ball in stride, sprinted down the left sideline, broke a tackle, and sprinted to the end zone to allow Republic to re-assert control, 35-21, with 9:56 left in the game.
“That was huge. We already knew we could win, but that really made us know we could win,” says Jones.
That was just the start of the fireworks.
Willard marched 81 yards on 13 plays on their next drive, again cutting the lead to a touchdown at 35-28 with 4:29 to play.
Republic gave the ball to Jones six times on seven plays on its next drive, punching it into the end zone on a two-yard run by Jones with 2:10 remaining, extending the lead back to 42-28.
Willard immediately struck again. Three plays and 19 seconds later, Willard scored on a touchdown pass from Kyle Smith to Kenny Chambers. With 1:45 left it was 42-35.
The last big play of the game belonged to Watkins. On the second play of the Tigers’ next drive, Watkins bounced outside to the right, beat the defense, and sprinted 67 yards for another touchdown, making the score 49-35.
Jones says the difference between last week’s performance (a loss to Carthage) and this week’s was the work of the Tigers up front.
“The O-line did a great job. We worked a lot of technique this week, and they fixed everything and it was just there,” Jones says.
Coach Wes Beachler says he’ll know more after looking at film, but the line did open up more holes for the running backs this week, after a week of practice in which “first steps” of his linemen were a focus.
“The alleys that we didn’t get last week were there. They got plenty of constant reminders in practice how important first steps are for the success of our team.”
Offensive lineman Skyler Hale says the extra work in practice paid off.
“Last week we had a lot of problems getting off the ball, getting those first steps and transitioning from that. We worked throughout practice at nailing those first steps, getting off the ball, the first process that comes with the snap. I think it really helped us tonight,” he says.
What difference does Hale notice when he gets the first step right on a play?
“I notice a guy on his butt,” he says. “He can do whatever he wants, as long as I get my first step, I take him wherever I want him to go.”
Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game
Willard had closed the scoring deficit to a single touchdown (35-28) for the second time, with 4:29 left in the game. But Republic methodically marched down the field, giving the ball to Jerney Jones six times on seven plays, eating up more than two minutes, and extending the lead back to two touchdowns. For its timing and its efficiency, that was the Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game.
Be listening to our broadcast for the Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game! Every week, Rich Miles and David Brazeal will choose the key drive that makes the difference in the outcome.
Two of the offensive highlights in the second half–the long pass from Watkins to Jones and the long run to cap the scoring by Watkins–were taken from a part of the playbook designed to throw a wrinkle at defenses, according to Beachler.
“Our offense is kind of based on, ‘We’re going to show you something, show you something, show something, then we’re going to sneak something by you.’ Riley’s last run, which was a good call by Coach (Ben) Wolfinbarger, and then that (pass) play are plays that mimic what we basically do, and they’re a subtle counter off of it,” Beachler says.
“It was huge for us, and that got some cushion back. When we scored that, I thought, ‘We may have to score again,’ and we had to score two more times to really shut the door.
The Tigers had dominated the first half, building a 21-0 lead at the break. They forced three Willard turnovers. One was an interception by Devon Ward, one a fumble recovery by Joey Jamison, and one a fumble recovery by Zach Dickens. The last fumble occurred as Willard was about to score its first touchdown, inside the Republic five-yard line.
Republic got on the board first when David Feil ran the ball 27 yards with 1:52 left in the first quarter. On the next drive, Jones ran in from nine yards out to make it 14-0. The third touchdown, on the third Republic drive of the game, ended with a 53-yard touchdown run by Jones.
Both teams are now 4-3. Republic is home next week for a game against Neosho.