The Republic offense scored every time it touched the ball, and the Republic defense kept Marshfield on the run all night as the Tigers posted a convincing 47-0 victory in their home opener Friday. Republic rolled up 486 total yards–467 on the ground–and turned in three interceptions on defense to pick up their first win of the year.
Sophomore quarterback Riley Watkins turned in a huge game, rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown on only four carries–an average of 47 yards per carry. Jerney Jones rushed for three touchdowns and gained 123 yards on only seven carries (17.5 per carry), Adam Batz rushed for 99 yards on 12 carries (8.25 per carry) and a TD, and David Feil gained 50 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns.
Watkins says the difference between his performance this week and last week was his teammates in front of him.
“Our linemen played one heck of a game up front. Every time I carried the ball, there was nothing but daylight in front of me. That was the difference this week in how we executed,” he says.
The Tigers didn’t waste any time imposing their will on Marshfield. After stopping the Blue Jays’ first offensive drive, Jones took a handoff to the right side and went 71 yards to pay dirt to give Republic a 6-0 lead.
On Marshfield’s ensuing possession, Devon Ward picked off a pass at the Blue Jays’ 35 yard line. That set up a short drive by the Tigers that ended with a three-yard run by David Feil to make the score 13-0.
The next Marshfield possession was the only time all night the Blue Jays sustained any success. They drove down inside the Republic ten yard line before stalling out.
The very next play, Watkins sprinted 91 yards to the end zone, making the score 20-0 with 11:37 left in the 2nd quarter.
When the Tigers got the ball next, they marched 56 yards in eight plays. A one-yard run by Jones made it 27-0 with 6:02 left in the second quarter.
A diving Justice Daniel interception set up the next Republic drive, starting at their own 29 yard line. A 67-yard run by Watkins took the ball inside the five yard line, where Jones punched it in from four yards out to extend the lead to 34-0.
The Tigers only got the ball twice in the second half, and they scored both times. The first drive was 71 yards and 14 plays, and it ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Feil.
The final drive, after a Maverick Lopez interception, ended with a five-yard touchdown run by Batz.
“I pulled off the guy going inside, checked the guy to my right,” Lopez says of his interception. “I didn’t think the ball was going to come, then he threw it.
“I felt like we were going to be really solid on defense because I knew coach Smith had a solid plan,” Lopez says. “I knew if we played how we normally play, we were going to do good. I knew our pass coverage was going to be challenged because there was a lot of passing and we’re not used to that.”
The Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game took place in the second quarter after Republic stopped Marshfield around mid-field. Beginning on their own 44 yard line, the Tigers methodically marched down the field, eating clock and chunks of yardage. Eight plays later, they handed the ball to Jerney Jones and he dove into the end zone from one yard out. That made the score 27-0 with 6:02 left in the 2nd quarter, and essentially put the game out of reach.
Beachler says the hard-hitting defensive performance was more in line with what he expected out of the defense before the season began.
“We talked early in the year that we felt like we were faster on defense this year. We read faster and we have more foot speed, and I think that showed tonight,” Beachler says. “I think our inexperience made us hesitate and not believe what we were seeing last week, and now that we’ve been on the Friday night field for a while, it got a little easier for us.”
Republic held Marshfield to only 209 yards of total offense.
The Tigers improve to 1-1. They begin Central Ozark Conference play at Ozark next week. Ozark is also 1-1.
Republic Tiger Sports will have a live broadcast of the game, beginning with the Hines Street Pharmacy Pre-game Show at 6:45.