Comeback too late for Tigers vs. Carthage

Fourth down conversions were the secret weapon for Carthage Friday in a 42–26 win at Republic. Carthage scored touchdowns on four different fourth-down plays in building a 42–13 lead, then held off a late comeback attempt by Republic.
Republic rushed for 272 yards, but struggled with its passing game, compiling only 39 yards through the air, for a total of 311 yards. Carthage passed for 169 yards and rushed for 267.
“They’ve always really been good on third and fourth down. It’s just a trait that they’ve had for a long time and they do a good job of dialing up the right thing,” Republic coach Dustin Baldwin said of the Carthage offense. “We had some guys that weren’t overly disciplined on defense and we didn’t execute, [which was] kind of out of character. So we’ve got to be more disciplined and … mentally tough to do the right thing.”
After Carthage built its 42–13 lead, Republic scored a touchdown, recovered an on-side kick, then scored again. But with the lead down to 16 points at 42–26, Republic had an opportunity to cut into the lead further before fumbling.
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Carthage took a 7–0 lead in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Patrick Carlton. Republic responded with a five-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a four-yard TD run by Louis Wallace. The score was tied 7–7.
On its next drive, Carthage scored on a 32-yard pass from Carlton to Tucker Downing on a fourth and 17 play. Republic went three-and-out, and Carthage scored again on a 21-yard pass from Carlton to Jayden Morgan. That made the score 21–7.
Republic cut the lead to 21–13 on its next drive, going eight plays and 65 yards. Lucas Hayes ran it in from four yards out.
Carthage finished the first-half scoring with a seven-yard TD run by Morgan on fourth-and-three. It was 28–13 at halftime.
Carthage built the lead with two more touchdowns in the third quarter: one was a one-yard run by Carlton on fourth and goal from the one, and the other was a 43-yard pass from Carlton to Morgan.
At that point, Carthage led 42–13, but the Tigers didn’t quit. They responded with a drive of 75 yards and seven plays, finishing with a nine-yard touchdown run by Hayes.
Cam Flood recovered an onside kick, and Republic scored again on a 10-play, 44-yard drive. Hayes scored from one yard out to make the lead 42–26, but the extra point hit the left upright and banged out. That was as close as Republic would get.
“I like the way our kids played. We fought, we battled, and certainly had an opportunity,” Baldwin says. “We had a lot of opportunities to get them off the field, so hopefully we can keep our head up and bounce back.”
Republic travels to Neosho for its week 9 game.