Republic was two seconds away from a huge win on the road, but Carthage quarterback Alex Derryberry had one last big play in him. Derryberry eluded the Republic defense and found receiver Ralston Schramm in the middle of the end zone as time expired, giving Carthage an improbable 40-35 victory on its homecoming night.
The touchdown capped a 68-yard drive in the final 1:11, after Republic had scored to take the lead. Trailing 34-27 with 6:20 left, Republic had marched 56 yards on 12 plays, scoring when David Feil dove into the end zone from three yards out. Republic attempted the extra point, but Smith took a bad snap, turned, and dove for the end zone, completing the two-point conversion and giving the Tigers a one-point lead.
Carthage’s winning drive was a continuation of Derryberry’s huge night. The Carthage quarterback completed 14 of 18 passes for 192 yards, and rushed for another 184 yards on 25 carries. D’Angelo Poole picked up 122 rushing yards on 28 carries for Carthage, which compiled 528 total yards for the game.
Coach Wes Beachler says the defense’s inability to generate much pressure on Derryberry during the last drive took a toll. The absence of defensive end Tyler Puckett because of injury didn’t help as the game wore on.
“I don’t question the effort,” says coach Wes Beachler. “We’re shorthanded. It is what it is. Most of our D-end depth is starting offensive lineman. We try to rotate kids. That might have made a difference, especially late in the game. We had a hard time generating a pass rush on the last drive.”
Republic had 311 rushing yards, led by Jace DuVall’s 111 yards on 13 carries. Jerney Jones carried the ball 11 times for 78 yards, David Feil rushed 63 yards on ten carries, and Jake Smith carried it eight times for 56 yards. Smith also completed one pass, a touchdown to Garrett Gordon for 26 yards.
The game went back and forth all night. Carthage scored first with 3:23 left in the 1st quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Derryberry. They missed the extra point and it was 6-0.
Republic answered on its next drive of 70 yards. DuVall capped it with a 43-yard run and Republic led 7-6.
Carthage retook the lead on another Derryberry touchdown run and the two-point conversion gave them a 14-7 lead.
Republic answered again on a one-yard run by Jerney Jones, tying the game 14-14.
Just before halftime, Carthage went up 21-14 on a touchdown pass to Tyler Ralston.
Republic started the 2nd half with a 53-yard drive in three plays, ending with another DuVall touchdown run, this one 23 yards. That tied the score at 21.
After Carthage scored again, Republic answered with a 26-yard TD pass from Smith to Gordon. Mitchell Heinzler missed the extra point and trailed 28-27.
Carthage scored again on its next drive, but missed its second extra point of the night and led 34-27, setting up Republic’s final offensive drive.
Carthage improves to 5-1. Republic falls to 4-2 and has state-ranked Willard at home for homecoming next Friday.