by Rusty Swift
Republic’s struggles for the 2016 football season continued in their homecoming matchup against the Branson Pirates, with the Tigers coming out on the short end of a 21-14 contest. The Pirates, who entered the game 0-5 in the COC Large, looked much better than their record. Branson’s junior quarterback Ryan Still lit up the Republic secondary with 221 yards passing for the game. And the Pirates running-back-by-committee approach netted 104 yards on 35 carries.
Meanwhile, the Tigers offense was grounded. Republic managed only 10 first downs, led by quarterback Riley Watkins, who rushed 24 times for 185 yards. David Feil added 48 yards on 12 carries.
Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game
The Tigers started the game strong on their very first possession. After a penalty called back a long kickoff return by Cameron Flood, the Tigers regrouped and marched 78 yards on 13 plays. The drive included a 24-yard pass from Riley Watkins to David Feil, and it ended on a 19-yard touchdown run by Watkins. It gave Republic a 7-0 lead and it was the Yocum Automotive Drive of the Game.
Republic got the ball to start the game and put together a promising 13-play, 78-yard scoring drive – capped off by a 19-yard TD run by Watkins. The drive came after a holding penalty nullified Cameron Flood’s 91-yard return of the opening kickoff.
After Republic’s Case Birlew intercepted Still on the Pirates’ opening drive, the Tiger offense failed to take advantage of the momentum by going three-and-out. Instead, Branson answered with an 8-play, 86-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 7 early in the second period. The Pirates passed the ball on four straight plays on the drive moving from their own 26 to the Tiger 9 yard line, before rushing two times for the score.
Branson followed with a successful onside kick to put the Republic defense back out on the field. It appeared the defense might hold the Pirates, putting them in a fourth-and-long from the Tiger 23, but Still threw a perfect strike to senior received Chad Utzman in the corner of the end-zone and Branson had a 14-7 lead.
After the Pirates defense forced another three-and-out, Branson was marching towards another score, but Tiger defensive back Bobby Finley picked off a Still pass at the Republic 15. The play sparked the Tiger offense, as Watkins ran the next play all the way to the Pirate 30. Republic would keep it on the ground for the next five plays, resulting in another Watkins TD. Grant Holmes’ second extra point kick of the night would tie the score at 14. That was the score at halftime.
Branson took the second half kickoff and marched 63-yards in 13 plays to take a 21-14 lead. Twice, it looked like the Tigers defense would hold, but the Pirates came up with the big plays when they needed them. The Tigers never mounted a threat until their last possession. Republic got the ball on its own 47 with 5:24 left in the game. The Tigers drove into the Pirate red-zone with plenty of time left on the clock. Facing a third down from the Branson 19 and needing to get to the 13, Feil took the ball and hurdled over a Branson defender, easily getting what appeared to be a first down. Instead, a flag appeared and the ball was placed back on the Branson 30—with the call being a personal foul for hurdling. Facing a third-and-17, Republic was unable to convert for the first down in two tries. The Pirates ran out the clock from there.
“I don’t know if it’s poor execution or inconsistency as much as it’s untimely breakdowns. Part of that’s penalties, part of it’s blocking. We’ve got to continue to drive to make that better,” says coach Wes Beachler.
Both Republic and Branson are now 2-5.
“For people who don’t quit, everybody’s in the playoffs Week 10,” says Beachler. “We’ve got an opportunity the next two weeks to better our standings in the district and better our seedings for Week 10.”
Republic will need to regroup quickly as they face a very tough Carthage team next Friday, which will be senior night.