Preston McCracken ran for 327 yards and scored six touchdowns, and the Republic defense got a stop when it mattered most to secure a 49-38 victory at Joplin on Friday.
The Tigers amassed 501 rushing yards without completing a pass, outlasting Joplin in a back-and-forth contest that saw six lead changes. Republic’s ground attack proved unstoppable, with Owen Klier adding 81 yards on 10 carries and Mason Fleetwood contributing 62 yards on nine attempts.
McCracken credited his offensive line for his huge performance. “It’s all up front every single time,” he said. “Most of the touchdowns I was untouched walking in the end zone. So it’s just all the O-line. They’re the push, they’re the offense.”
When the Joplin defense did make contact with McCracken, they mostly just bounced off. McCracken slithered and slammed his way through would-be tacklers nearly every time he carried the ball. His 327 yards are unofficially the 26th-highest single-game total in Missouri history, according to the records listed on the Missouri State High School Activities Association website. Six rushing touchdowns in a game is 24th-best all-time.
Only Jerney Jones has more rushing yards in a game for Republic. He had 417 yards rushing in 2015 against Glendale.
Republic struck first with an eight-minute opening drive, capped by McCracken’s one-yard touchdown run. Joplin quickly responded, tying the game on a 33-yard touchdown pass. The offensive fireworks continued throughout the first half, with McCracken scoring on runs of 23 and 36 yards, while Joplin’s Toryn Jones broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run.
Coach Ryan Cornelsen praised his team’s offensive execution, particularly McCracken’s decision-making on read options. “That was the most reading we’ve done,” Cornelsen said. “I felt like that was what they couldn’t stop.”
McCracken explained his success with the read option: “They kept taking the fullback every single time, crashing down instead of just running upfield. I just made good reads.”
Republic took control in the second half, with McCracken adding three more touchdowns. His 2-yard score with 5:38 remaining put the Tigers ahead for good at 42-38. The Republic defense then forced a crucial turnover on downs, allowing McCracken to seal the victory with a 36-yard touchdown run in the final minute.
“That was a great performance by our offense, and our defense came up with the stop when we needed it in the end,” Cornelsen said.
The win improves Republic’s record to 4-1, while Joplin falls to 3-2.