Republic Tigers rebounded from a 7-6 deficit after a penalty-plagued first quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points before halftime, then pulling away for a commanding 41-14 road win against Ozark on Thursday night.
After failing to score on its first two drives, Republic finally got on the board with 1:51 left in the first quarter. It was a five-play drive that covered 67 yards and ended with a six-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Woods. The extra point was no good, and Republic led 6-0.
Ozark took the lead early in the second quarter. It took only four plays for them to go 65 yards. They scored on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Russell to Sam Clark, and the extra point made it 7-6 Ozark.
“We really needed to put some drives together, and at the end of the second quarter and the start of the third, we started putting drives together, and that’s when we’re at our best,” said coach Ryan Cornelsen. “We had some big plays, which is exciting, but that’s not how you beat people.”
Republic scored on its very next drive, stringing together 12 plays and driving 80 yards. A one-yard touchdown run by Woods put Republic back on top, and the two-point conversion made it 14-7. After a defensive stop, Republic scored again. On a one-play drive that covered 94 yards, Daniel Phillips got free and scampered all the way to the end zone, outrunning a couple of Ozark defenders to put Republic ahead 20-7.
With 1:29 left in the first half, Republic scored again. It was a four-play drive that covered 59 yards, and it ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Kanon Krol. The extra point made the score 27-7, and that’s where it stood at halftime.
In the second half, Ozark scored first, cutting Republic’s lead to 27-14, but that was the last time they would add to their tally. Republic, though, put together two long, consistent scoring drives. One covered 81 yards on 15 plays and ended with a 14-yard touchdown run by Caide White. The next was seven plays and covered 65 yards. It ended with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Woods to Cory Craigmyle.
Phillips led the offensive charge for the Tigers with six carries for 117 yards, including his 94-yard touchdown run late in the first half.
Woods completed 4 of 10 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing 17 times for 85 yards and adding two touchdowns on the ground. James Rexroat had a huge night, despite only being credited with two receptions. Two other catches were negated by penalties, and he still ended up with 107 yards receiving.
White carried the ball nine times for 60 yards and a touchdown. Krol added 11 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. Craigmyle caught the 32-yard touchdown pass from Woods. In total, the Tigers racked up 338 yards rushing and 142 yards passing, amounting to 480 yards of total offense.
On the defensive side, Republic held Ozark to 195 total yards. Ozark’s quarterback Peyton Russell was 9-for-17 in passing for 178 yards but completed only two passes after halftime. Ozark’s running game was limited to 40 yards.
“We had to move some kids in with injuries this week, and I thought those kids did a good job,” Cornelsen said.
The Tigers were caught by surprise early because of formations they hadn’t seen on videotape with Ozark’s first-year coaching staff. “I thought our kids did a good job adjusting to those formations,” he said.
Republic is 2-0, and the Tigers will be back home next Friday for a showdown with Webb City.