Zach Hall completed 20 of 27 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns as Republic walloped Willard on homecoming night, 40-14.
Hall, who is originally from Alaska, spread the wealth to six different receivers. His favorite targets were Beau Allen and Garrett Metscher, who each caught seven passes. Metscher had 123 yards receiving and a touchdown. Allen had 88 yards receiving.
“Zach did what we thought he’d do,” says coach Kurt Thompson. “He did a good job running our offense, and we’re awful happy for him.”
Thompson says the receiving corps is also getting better as the passing game gets more use.
“I think we threw the ball and caught the ball well today, and that makes us hard to defend. I don’t think we had a lot of success on the ground, but we were able to get some things going.”
Republic’s defense was sharp as well. They held Willard to just 65 total yards in the first half. Playing against a much larger offensive line from Willard, the defensive front managed to penetrate into the backfield, harassing the quarterback and containing Willard’s runners. Most of Willard’s 286 total yards came on the ground in the second half, after the game was well in hand for Republic.
The defense was on display early. Republic got off to a quick start when Josh Vaughn picked off his fifth pass of the year to give the Tigers good field position on their first drive. Republic capitalized, scoring on a TD pass from Hall to TJ Ray from 13 yards out. The extra point was no good, and the Tigers led 6-0.
Republic’s defense held Willard again and the Tigers scored their second touchdown on a 15-yard pass to Grant Hancock. The two-point conversion gave them a 14-0 lead with 2:10 left in the first quarter.
On their next drive, Republic scored on a five-yard run by TK Brigance to make it 21-0.
After Garrett Blotter recovered a fumble to end Willard’s next drive, Republic drove 73 yards in five minutes. Zach Hall ran the ball in from three yards out as time expired in the half, and it was 28-0.
Republic got the ball to start the 3rd quarter and struck again quickly. A 48-yard TD pass to Garrett Metscher put the Tigers in scoring position, and a 1-yard run by Kerik Crouse made it 34-0. The extra point was no good.
Willard finally got on the board with 8:11 left in the game. Luke He ran the ball in from three yards out, to make the score 34-7.
Hall went over 300 yards passing on the next drive, and picked up another touchdown with a four-yard toss to Metscher with 2:44 left. It was 40-7.
Willard scored a late touchdown to make the final 40-14.
Kerik Crouse led the way on the ground for Republic, grinding out 81 yards on 28 carries.
At halftime, Brady Glessner was announced as the 2012 Homecoming Queen.