REPUBLIC — Keiran Govan thought about the team’s lone loss throughout the week. Republic suffered a big Week 3 defeat to Nixa. Since then, the Tigers have peeled off four straight wins, including their best victory of the season on Friday, Oct. 9.
Republic (6-1) toppled Webb City (5-2) 33-14 for a huge win.
“Everyone knows what happened against Nixa, we never want that feeling again,” Govan said. “We came out with a different edge and you could see that on everybody’s face. We smacked them in the mouth and ran it down their throats.”
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In a battle between two option-style offenses, Republic set the tone early at the line of scrimmage. The Tigers’ opening drive lasted 20 plays and took over nine minutes off the clock. Govan opened the scoring off of a 6-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down.
On Republic’s second possession, the Tigers scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Nolan Lashley on fourth down. The fourth-down conversions were massive, and it only gave Republic more confidence, according to head coach Ryan Cornelsen.
“I think our kids take pride in going for it,” Cornelsen said. “When that occurred, I think they calmed down and they relaxed and it carried us through the first half.”
Lashley would continue his dominance into the second half. The junior scored three more touchdowns and rushed for over 150 yards in the win. He’s become Republic’s main weapon and one of Southwest Missouri’s top players.
“We are a dual-threat team. I think they might have thought that they could just shut down the inside run and beat us,” Lashley said. “We out-physicaled them, and we showed that we could run stretch and go outside the tackles.”
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After Lashley’s rushing touchdown to start the third quarter, the Tigers opted for an on-side kick. Fisher Moore snagged the loose ball after Ethan Blades popped a fantastic kick into the air.
Republic took 10 minutes off the clock between two touchdowns and the third-quarter on-side kick. Webb City were simply suffocated entering the fourth quarter down 26-0.
Webb City tried to mount a comeback, but there simply was not enough time on the clock. Running back Drake Claborn scored from close range, while quarterback Mason Young made a great fade pass to Malachi Njoroge for the team’s other touchdown.
This was Republic’s fifth straight win over Webb City. It’s the Tigers’ second win over an above .500 team this season, the other being Neosho.
Republic has little time to celebrate. The Tigers have to go right back to work against another great program in Carthage.
Republic hosts Carthage (6-1) next week for senior night. Republic has won only one of its last 19 attempts against Carthage. If Republic can control the clock and play near-perfect football as it did against Webb City, Republic will like its chances in Week 8.
“I didn’t think we were physical enough earlier in the year to win big games,” Cornelsen said. “We’ve had to be more physical and I think we really took that to heart. We tried to be like that tonight.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Republic football ‘ran it down their throats’ in win over Webb City