I got this note about a new Junior High football opportunity in Republic, and wanted to pass it along. High School coach Kurt Thompson will be a part of this program. [Read more...]
Late Score Lifts Pirates Past Republic
October 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
An 80-yard drive in the final two minutes of the game gave Branson a 25-20 win over Republic, and a spot in the state playoffs. The winning drive took only seven plays, and burned just a little over a minute on the clock. It ended on a 13-yard touchdown run by Cameron Chancey. A final drive by the Tigers ended at midfield as time expired.
Trailing 19-14, Republic had scored with 1:59 left in the game to take a 20-19 lead. A long kickoff return by Connor O’Mealy had set the Tigers up at the Branson 45-yard line. They scored five plays later on a 4-yard run by Blaze Carano to take the lead, before Branson answered with its winning drive.
Republic’s inability to stop the run was evident throughout the game. Branson racked up 393 rushing yards, and 434 yards total. Quarterback Cameron Chancey rushed 12 times for 141 yards. Brandon Mahoney ran for 100 yards on 17 carries. And Tee Helsel ran 10 times for 77 yards.
Republic had 237 total yards for the game. They picked up 137 yards through the air, on 9-of-16 passing from Blaze Carano. Ryan Sifferman led the Tigers with 80 rushing yards.
The game looked like it would be a Branson blowout early, with the Pirates scoring twice quickly. They scored on their first drive, on an 8-yard run by Brandon Mahoney. Two possessions later, Mahoney ran it in from three yards out to give Branson a 13-0 lead.
But a 34-yard touchdown pass from Carano to Jaggar Deeds in the second quarter woke up the Republic offense and closed the gap to 13-7. On the Tigers’ next drive, they went 69 yards and scored on a one-yard run by Colton McCarty. Blake Baumberger’s extra point made it 14-13 Tigers.
Republic kept the lead until a Branson touchdown with 3:59 left in the 4th quarter. Isaac Johnston scored on a two-yard run to give the Pirates a 19-14 lead, setting up the back-and-forth finish.
The victory puts Branson into the playoffs, but they’ll have their work cut out for them next Wednesday when they travel to Webb City to face the top-ranked team in the state. Republic ends its season 3-7.
Neosho Beats Republic to Claim District Title
October 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Neosho racked up 479 total yards of offense for the game, including 299 yards on the ground. Quarterback Alex Wise threw for 180 yards and rushed for 92 more. Running back Jared Shurley had 17 carries for 128 yards.
The Tiger offense kept Republic in the game until the 4th quarter. Republic had 212 total yards, including 71 yards rushing by Colton McCarty. Late in the 3rd quarter, McCarty’s touchdown cut the Neosho lead to 31-21, but that was as close as they got. Two subsequent touchdowns by Neosho put the game away.
Neosho scored first when Republic fumbled the ball deep in its own territory. The Tigers covered the ball in the end zone to avoid giving up a touchdown, but Neosho scored the safety to lead 2-0.
On the next drive the Wildcats took the ball 45 yards on nine plays. A two-yard run by Alex Wise gave Neosho a 9-0 lead.
It looked like the game would be out of hand early, when Neosho scored a touchdown on its next possession. A three-yard run by Jared Shurley punctuated a seven-play, 55-yard drive, and made it 16-0 with 7:28 to go in the half.
But the Tigers responded quickly two plays later. A 62-yard touchdown pass from Blaze Carano to Chase Mills put Republic on the scoreboard, and Colton McCarty scored on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 16-8.
The defense stopped Neosho on its next possession, and the Tigers scored again on a 6-yard run by Colton McCarty. The two-point conversion failed, and the Tigers trailed 16-14.
Neosho grabbed back the momentum just before halftime, driving 80 yards on nine plays. Jared Shurley’s two-yard run made the score 23-14, where it stood at halftime.
The victory, coupled with Branson’s win over McDonald County, clinches the district title for Neosho. Republic plays at Branson in the regular-season finale next week.
Football Week 8: Postgame with Kurt Thompson
October 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Coach Kurt Thompson talks about the Tiger victory over McDonald County, how his team handled the Mustang offense, and the great performance turned in by Ryan Sifferman.
Junior High Update
October 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Here’s a summary of the junior high scores I have from tonight:
Volleyball 7th graders (A) win in 2 games vs Nixa.
Volleyball 8th graders (A) lose in 2 games vs Nixa (25-21 25-22)
Football 7th graders (A) win over Nixa 8-6.
Football 8th graders (A) win over Nixa 8-…6.
Football 8th graders (B) win over Nixa 14-6.
Junior High Report: Big Night for 8th Graders
October 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The 8th grade football team ran away with an easy win over Rogersville Tuesday night, 38-14. James Desjardins scored five of the Tigers’ six touchdowns.
Republic ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and did the same thing on another kick later in the game.
The 7th grade football team suffered its first loss of the season, 8-6, at Rogersville.
The junior high volleyball teams were at home against Carthage. The 8th graders won 25-19 25-19, and the 7th graders lost 16-25 25-16 20-25. (The 7th grade B team did win, though.)
Republic vs. Willard: Game-winning Drive
October 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The Tigers went 70 yards in about three minutes to beat Willard. Here’s the video of how they did it.
Football Week 6: Postgame with Kurt Thompson
October 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment
After the game, Coach Kurt Thompson talked about his team’s last-second victory, and the character the Tigers showed in coming back after Willard scored to take the lead with three minutes to go.
