Republic started strong again, but like so many other games this season, penalties and other mistakes cost them in a home loss to Carthage on Senior Night, 34-14.
Carthage scored first on the opening drive, going 60 yards. It looked like the Republic defense would hold, but on 4th and 20, Carthage Quarterback Keith Guest II connected for a touchdown pass to Trey Collins. Carthage missed the extra point and it was 6-0.
Republic responded with a touchdown of its own, driving 60 yards. Riley Watkins punched it in from four yards out, and Republic, after Grant Holmes kicked the extra point, led 7-6.
Republic recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but couldn’t take advantage. Carthage got the ball back, drove 78 yards for a touchdown––including a 60-yard pass to Shane Becker––to take a 13-7 lead.
Carthage scored two more touchdowns before halftime, one on a 66-yard drive, and one on a 75-yard interception return, making the halftime score 27-7.
Carthage tacked on another touchdown in the second half to extend its lead, and Republic didn’t score again until the final play of the game, when Devon Ward took the ball into the end zone from five yards out to make the final score 34-14.
Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game
The first time was the charm, as it has been all year for the Tiger offense. The first time Republic touched the ball, they marched down the field, aided by a couple of Carthage penalties, and scored a touchdown on Riley Watkins’ 4-yard run. It gave Republic its only lead of the game at 7-6, and it was the Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game.
Again, it was mistakes at key times that cost Republic, as they failed to put together any consistency.
“On both sides of the ball…we get in a rhythm. On defense, we got stops. We get them in 3rd and medium, 3rd and long. Then we give up the 3rd and medium or 3rd and long,” says coach Wes Beachler. “Offensively, we get yards. We make plays. We get to 3rd and 4, 3rd and 3, 3rd and 2, get the first down — there’s litter on the ground, and it’s not the litter we want on the ground, and it comes back.”
Beachler says the mistakes may be a result of players trying to do a little too much.
“It’s getting redundant, but we don’t see that stuff in practice,” he says. “We don’t see the holds and those things in practice. I think it’s kids just trying to make plays. They’re trying to work their butt off, and they grab a jersey and bad things happen.”
Republic falls to 2-6. Carthage is 7-1, and can win the Central Ozark Conference outright with a win next week against Neosho. Republic travels to Willard next week to wrap up conference play.