Republic sports 10-30-24
Republic Tiger footballers use strong ground game to top Willard
Republic overcame a slow start to dominate Willard 35–7 Friday night, using a powerful rushing attack that gained 345 yards. Izaiah Hull led the way with 149 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tigers struggled early against a familiar Willard defensive front that has given them trouble in recent years.
“They’re pretty good up front,” Republic coach Ryan Cornelsen said. “That’s probably my fault in the fact that’s four or five games we haven’t played well against (Willard). It’s been the same D-line. Three of them were back from a year ago, and they’ve done a good job putting it on us.”
After a fumble and punt on their first two possessions, the Tigers got going with a 16-play, 68-yard drive. Mason Fleetwood scored on a three-yard run and Elijah Phiri’s extra point made it 7–0.
Hull raced 68 yards for a touchdown with 5:58 remaining in the second quarter. The Tigers scored again just before halftime when Trenten Coleman found Cannon Ellison for an 11-yard touchdown pass, set up by Ellison’s 14-yard reverse.
“The second quarter I felt like we did a little better job, found ways to score and get up enough that I think we took a little pressure off and were able to play a little better the second half,” Cornelsen said.
Republic continued its dominance after halftime. Fleetwood sprinted 21 yards for his second touchdown with 6:30 left in the third quarter. Hull powered in from five yards out late in the third quarter to make it 35–0.
The Tigers’ defense controlled Willard’s ground game throughout the night. “I felt like that was two games back-to-back that our defense played extremely well. It was a good plan,” Cornelsen said. “We thought they’d run it more than that, and so we were pretty heavy on the run and they kind of went away from it quick.”
Willard scored its only touchdown against Republic’s reserves in the fourth quarter.
Fleetwood contributed 79 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Coleman added 46 yards on 10 rushes. Republic out-gained Willard 353–181 in total yards.
Republic finishes the regular season 7–2 and will host Springfield Central (0–9) to open district play.
Republic volleyball’s season ends after historic win over Kickapoo
Republic volleyball’s dramatic district tournament run included a long-awaited victory over Kickapoo before ending with a semifinal loss to top-seeded Ozark last week at Willard.
The Lady Tigers stunned Kickapoo with their first victory over the Lady Chiefs since 2013, rallying from two sets down for a 3–2 win in the Class 5 District 6 tournament opener. The win avenged an earlier loss this season when Republic had won the first two sets before watching victory slip away.
Down two sets after losing 25–18 and 25–19, coach Allison Davis challenged her team.
“In the huddle, I said this is a mental game,” Davis said. “This next set is all about a mental game and digging deep. Yesterday in practice, and even (at) the start of the game today, I said ‘No regrets.’”
Republic responded by winning three straight sets: 25–19, 25–19, 15–6. Senior Reese Frey recorded her 1,000th career assist during a pivotal third-set run and finished with 48 assists. Adison Gibbs led Republic with 18 kills, while Kaylee Cornelsen anchored the defense with 21 digs.
“We found their weak spots and we started executing and being a smart volleyball team,” Davis said of the comeback.
The victory marked Republic’s first postseason win against Kickapoo after district losses in 2021 and 2023.
In Friday’s semifinal, Republic played even with Ozark early, tying the score 12–12 in the first set. But Ozark pulled away for a 25–19, 25–9, 25–13 victory.
Republic finished its season at 14–17. The match was the final one for seniors Cornelsen, Frey, Nevaeh Ghan and Gibbs.
Republic golfers cap season at state tourney at Rivercut
Republic golfers battled windy conditions on the second day of the Class 3 state championship, with senior Izzy Benson finishing her high school career with her best state tournament performance and sophomore Jenna Smith making a strong debut at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.
Benson placed 39th overall, shooting rounds of 93 and 91 for a two-day total of 184. The finish marked her highest placement and best overall score in four years of state competition.
“Izzy had a tremendous career,” said coach Curt Plotner. “She was extremely consistent all four years, and she is one of the best that we have ever had. She is a wonderful kid and will be extremely successful in the future.”
The finish improved upon Benson’s previous state appearances, where she placed 59th in Class 4 as a junior, 61st as a sophomore, and 63rd as a freshman.
Smith shot rounds of 104 and 95 in her state tournament debut, showing significant improvement in day two to finish 57th overall.
“I was really proud of both of them today for scoring better than they did yesterday in the wind,” Plotner said. “They are both great kids that represent our program in the right way. They both had a wonderful season.”
Looking ahead to next season, Plotner expressed optimism about Smith’s future. “Jenna continued to grow throughout the season, and I think her best days are ahead of her. She got a taste of the state tournament this year and knows what she needs to work on in the offseason,” he said.
Republic soccer sends seniors out with shutout victory over Willard
Republic celebrated its Senior Night with a 4–0 victory over Willard, Thursday, as the orange Tigers scored twice in each half and recorded their third shutout in five matches.
Will Pinnell opened the scoring with 35:48 left in the first half on an assist from Maddox Aldridge. Senior Diego Zuniga extended the lead three minutes later, capitalizing on goalkeeper Koal Williams’ 50-yard punt that earned him a rare assist.
Mason Tackett pushed the lead to 3–0 with 37:17 remaining in the second half. After a corner kick, senior Caleb Miclea won the ball from a Willard defender and found Tackett, who struck it out of the air with his left foot for the goal.
Pinnell added his second goal late in the match off an assist from senior Miles Thomas, who played the ball ahead from midfield.
Williams finished with 10 saves behind a defense anchored by senior Porter Bollinger.
“It was their last home game. So I think that had a lot to do with it,” coach Jesus Zuniga said of the seniors. “I told the players, let’s send these guys off on a high note. And then I told (the seniors), let’s leave this program in good hands.”
The Tigers honored Zuniga, Thomas, Miclea, Bollinger, and team manager Jaysen Rodriguez before the match.
“What they’ve invested in the program, it’s starting to show now,” Zuniga said. “They just are starting to trust each other. And it’s fun to watch. And I’m not ready for it to end. I really love this class.”
Republic improved to 9–15, while Willard dropped to 15–9.
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