The Republic defense scored more touchdowns Friday night than it gave up.
Kickapoo ran the ball 29 times, finishing with minus-4 rushing yards in Republic’s 54-10 win.
Break the night down any way you want, and it comes out in the defense’s favor. Kickapoo threw for 68 yards, and 54 of them came on one completion. Take away that throw, and the Chiefs gained 10 yards all night. They managed five first downs. Republic’s defenders brought down a ball carrier behind the line 11 times.
And for the second week in a row, nobody reached the end zone against the Tiger defense.
Kickapoo’s only points against the defense came on a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter, and even that drive tells the story. The Chiefs took over near midfield after a Republic fumble, and Turner Hale hit Will Buckley for 54 yards down to the Republic 6. That was as close as Kickapoo got all night. A false start pushed the Chiefs back, Hale lost six yards on a run, and they settled for three.
Kickapoo’s touchdown came on a 74-yard kickoff return to open the second half. And the defense answered it the next time it got a chance. On Kickapoo’s first offensive snap of the half, Alex Johnson stepped in front of a Drake Wilson pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown.
Game page →The second quarter may have been the unit’s best stretch. Republic blocked a punt to set up a short touchdown drive, and Kickapoo punted on all four of its possessions.
“We gave up a couple big plays there, which we’ll learn from,” coach Ryan Cornelsen said. “But even when we did, we’re able to hold them out of the end zone. I feel like we’re playing fast.”
Two straight weeks without allowing an offensive touchdown, minus-4 yards rushing allowed, 11 tackles for loss, and a touchdown of its own — the Republic defense’s night against Kickapoo is our Performance of the Week.
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