Ryan Cornelsen watched Webb City’s film this week and kept seeing players he recognized, even when the numbers on their jerseys had changed.
“It’s basically the same defense we played twice a year ago as far as personnel,” Republic’s head coach said on this week’s REPMO Football Show. “A couple kids I was watching, and I knew it wasn’t the numbers they were a year ago. So I had to go back. I’m like, I’m pretty sure that’s the same kid. And they were.”
No. 4 Republic (5-1) hosts No. 5 Webb City (5-1) Friday at 7 p.m. in a matchup of top-five teams in Class 5. Both are in Class 5 District 6. Carthage (5-1) comes to Republic the following Friday.
Webb City’s only loss came last Friday, 36-14 to Carthage. The Cardinals beat Nixa 23-21 on Sept. 18, a week after Nixa handed Republic its only loss, 49-6. Webb City also beat Ozark 21-18 and Willard 49-0. Republic beat Ozark 49-0 and plays at Willard on Oct. 23.
Cornelsen said Webb City’s offensive line has been together for years.
“Most of these kids have been starting since their sophomore year, so they’ve got some two- and three-year starters on the offensive line, and they’re massive,” he said. “They’ve got a veteran team, a team that’s gone through some battles. Kind of like we are this year, they had a lot of new faces (last year), and they have them all returning. I think that’s why they played so well early.”
Game page →Webb City won the first 24 meetings between the schools, starting with a 12-8 Class 4A playoff game in 1988 against a Republic team that came in ranked No. 1. Republic’s first win in the series came in the 2022 Class 5 playoffs, 30-21 at Webb City.
The Tigers have won the last four. They beat Webb City 21-20 in the 2023 state semifinals and 15-13 at home in 2024. Last season Republic won 27-21 at Webb City, when the Cardinals were ranked third in Class 5, and 41-24 in the Class 5 District 6 semifinals at Republic. Webb City leads the series 25-5.
The two teams have played twice in the same season six times, including last year. Cornelsen said he isn’t a fan of a district format that can put the same opponents on the schedule twice.
“There’s times I feel like I’ve showed my cards a little bit on some of the stuff that I would do,” he said. “So that second game, you’re trying to debate, do you do it again, do you not do it?”
He said his approach is the same anyway.
“We’re going to do everything we can to beat this Webb team and have a plan that gives us a chance,” Cornelsen said. “If we play them again, great. If we don’t, great. Right now it’s just trying to figure out a way to win this Friday.”
Senior cornerback Alex Johnson said the next two games decide more than the conference standings.
“We’re obviously going for the one seed in our district, to be able to have all of our home games here so our fans are able to come,” Johnson said. “We have a great crowd, so we’re trying to get those wins and be able to get our number one seed.”
Senior tight end Aiden Bodoin said the crowd is part of it.
“We’re all just very locked in, just ready to get these two big games, especially at home,” Bodoin said. “I feel like the other team is very nervous when they come to our place.”
Republic is coming off a 35-0 win at Joplin, its third shutout of the season. It is the first time Republic has posted three shutouts in a season since 2003. Nolan Lashley ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns and has 20 touchdowns this season. Kordel Riley scored on a reverse, Lincoln Caldwell ran for a touchdown, and Cooper Cornelsen threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Overstreet. Trenten Coleman intercepted a pass, and Joplin’s only two trips inside the Republic 35 ended on downs.
Cornelsen said the five wins have meant more because so many of the players are new.
“Every win’s going to be new to them,” he said. “We had the letdown against Nixa, didn’t play very well, weren’t ready to play at that level. And so now these next two weeks, we’re back to that level. And so we’ll see what kind of progress we make.”
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