Republic, with new coach, continues to impress after win over rival Willard (2024)

WILLARD — Nothing says rivalry game like a ruckus crowd, intense pregame music and student sections chirping shots back and forth at each other.

“Real tigers are orange and black” was an ever-present chant coming from the Republic student section in the Tigers 45-21' win over Willard.

“I heard about it in town and I read about it a little bit,” Republic head coach Ryan Cornelsen said. “There’s no doubt it's a big rivalry. They had a good crowd and it was a good environment. Their kids came out with more energy than ours did.”

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Even though Republic scored first courtesy of a 55-yard run from senior quarterback Avery Moody, Willard answered with a score of their own.

Big runs by senior quarterback Tyler Janes and junior runningback Owen Bushnell set up Willard for an eventual 3-yard score by Bushnell.

Both crowds were exceedingly loud. Big plays from both sides excited the crowds so much that you couldn’t hear the announcer calling out who scored.

“There’s definitely a lot more intensity that goes into it,” junior running back Ezekial “Easy” Meads said. “We all want to beat each other, especially with this team (Willard.) We all grew up together and always went at each other.”

The intensity was definitely there. Big plays by opposing teams silenced the other side’s bench. Big hits were followed by some in-your-face trash talk and scrappy play in the trenches nearly led to some scuffles.

Republic fought hard to hold on to the lead. Meads was a tough runner and a big part of the convincing win. He punched in a 12-yard touchdown run to give Republic a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“The big thing about the offense is that we really work together well as a team,” Meads said. “We all know our blocking assignments. We’re not scared to go throw our bodies out for one of our teammates to make sure we pop off a big run.”

And pop off big runs they did.

Aside from Moody’s 55-yarder, Meads had two carries for over 40 yards. He finished with 101 yards rushing and a pair of scores.

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Moody punched in his second score of the night in the second quarter, making the score 21-6.

Republic went to the spread near the end of the half, and it paid off.

Junior quarterback Gavyn Beckner, with the help of some defensive penalties on Willard, drove Republic to the red zone. Senior kicker Marco Donjuan nailed a field goal as time expired to give the Tigers a 24-14 lead into halftime.

Another long run by Moody set up Meads for his second touchdown of the game, making the Republic lead 31-14.

“I have to honestly give a lot of my performance to my teammates with those big blocks up there,” Meads said. “Avery Moody had a lot of big runs. We all work really well together in this offense.”

Willard responded with another big rush from Bushnell, cutting the lead to 10.

From there it was all Republic.

Junior running back Connor Sandridge bulldozed his way into the endzone in the third quarter, giving Republic a 38-21 lead.

Moody followed Sandridge’s score with his third of the night in the fourth quarter, making the score 45-21.

“It's not a one-person offense,” Cornelson said. “You never know who’s going to get the hot hand and who’s going to hurt people. To me, it's an unselfish style of play.”

The game was called due to lightning shortly after Moody’s touchdown. Republic will travel to Webb City (1-1) to face the powder-blue machine next week.