The Tigers dug themselves too big a hole early in the game at Carl Junction and couldn’t dig out of it, in a 38-20 loss on the road Friday.
The Bulldogs scored twice within the first nine minutes, aided by a botched kickoff return by the Tigers. After Carl Junction’s first score, they kicked off to Republic, but when the ball landed around the 30 yard line, no Tigers went to cover it. Carl Junction recovered, punched it in, and took control.
It was 21-0 after the first quarter, but Republic responded quickly. A 53 yard run by David Feil made the score 21-7. One possession later, Skyler Owen scampered for 55 yards to cut the lead to a single touchdown. Republic had a chance to tie the game before halftime, but a bad snap and an interception snuffed out the drive, and it was 21-14 at half.
The second half belonged to Carl Junction. They shut down Republic on its first drive, scored another touchdown to take a 14 point lead, then followed that up with a field goal and another touchdown to stretch their lead to 14. A score by Riley Watkins on a 59 yard run cut the lead to 38-20, and that was the final margin.
“We are not executing very well right now,” says Coach Wes Beachler. “Some of that execution to the average person in the stands is missed, but some of it is pretty doggone obvious, (like) nobody scrambling to get to the kickoff when I think most people know you’ve got to field that sucker.”
Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game
With the Tigers trailing 21-7, they took over possession on the 23-yard line. They took only four plays to drive down the field in 1:49. When Skyler Owen got loose for a 55-yard touchdown run, the Tigers were back in the game. That was as close as the Tigers would get, but it swung momentum their way and it was the Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game.
The vast majority of the Tigers’ offense came on five big plays. The Tigers had five plays that netted 223 yards. The other 36 plays gained only 35 yards.
Carl Junction ran 79 offensive plays to 41 for Republic. Republic had 258 total yards to Carl Junction’s 419.
Rayquion Weston carried the ball 32 times for 192 yards and four touchdowns. Republic’s Skyler Owen gained 88 yards (but only -4 in the second half). David Feil gained 74 yards and Riley Watkins ran for 64. Jake Jones had 42 yards in the second half.
The Tigers fall to 1-1. They travel to Webb City to face the 0-2 Cardinals next Friday night.