By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
JOPLIN — The Joplin Eagles blanked the visiting Republic Tigers and tacked on 14 points in the second half to earn a 41-14 victory in Central Ozark Conference play Friday night at Junge Stadium.
Republic managed only a single first down, punted four times, and committed a pair of turnovers (one fumble, one interception) in the final 24 minutes.
Joplin junior quarterback Always Wright finished with five touchdown passes on a near-perfect accuracy night (he completed 24 of 26 passes for 277 yards) and freshman running back Quinton Renfro closed out the scoring on a 59-yard touchdown run.
“I’m really proud of the defense,” Joplin head coach Curtis Jasper said. “Obviously, we gave up a couple touchdowns in the first half, believe one on the opening drive, but we got better as the game went on and we just continued to build. That’s what I talked about with our guys. We had a humbling experience last week (a 32-20 loss to Willard on the road that stands as the Tigers’ lone win this season) and we told them they have to dig deep and build from each play. I thought we did a really good job of that tonight, especially defensively.
“We can only control what we can control. Each day, do whatever you can to get better and then Friday nights will take care of themselves. We had to refocus on the process. I felt like we let that slip away from us, because everything was geared on us playing on Friday nights. We had to put the emphasis back on the process.”
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The Eagles, 3-3 overall and COC, stay close to home next week when they face unbeaten Carthage (5-0). Carthage made their own trip to Willard on Friday and blasted their fellow Tigers 42-7.
Joplin showed its explosive offensive capabilities early and often Friday night, with all six scoring drives clocking in under 3:00 — 2:36, 1:41, 1:44, 1:56, 1:44, and :57.
Republic did its best to keep the Joplin offense on the sideline in the first half and sustained two scoring drives that combined to eat more than 11 minutes off the clock.
Joplin took advantage of a blown coverage for the first points of the game — a 29-yard touchdown pass from Wright to Keaton Renfro 2:43 into the contest.
Republic answered the bell on its first drive and sophomore quarterback Gavyn Beckner and senior receiver Landon Porter connected on a 29-yard scoring pass of their own highlighted by a high-arcing throw and a diving catch in the corner of the end zone. Beckner put the ball where only his receiver could get it and Porter did just that.
The Eagles scored on their next two possessions to build a 20-7 lead only 40 seconds into the second quarter. Wright hit Keaton Renfro for a 2-yard TD and Nathan Glades broke open a 66-yard TD for the game’s longest scoring play.
Joplin’s first three possessions generated 205 total yards on 20 plays with three touchdowns and six first downs in 6:01 of game time.
Down two scores and coming off Joplin’s first punt of the night, Republic’s offense put together a scoring drive that numbered 13 plays, 78 yards, and 5:51. The Tigers brought in junior Avery Moody at quarterback in the second quarter and on his second drive, he called his own number seven times for 48 yards and he capped off the methodical drive with a 2-yard TD run. Republic ran the ball all 13 plays.
Joplin took possession with 2:09 before halftime and the Eagles responded with their own 11-play scoring drive that changed the complexion of the game. Terrance Gibson caught the first of two short TD passes on a slant route and the Eagles headed into halftime with a 27-14 advantage.
Joplin unofficially tallied 460 yards of total offense with Republic finishing the night at 184. The Tigers gained 171 of those yards in the first half.
Republic, 2-4 overall and COC, returns to the road in Week 6 against Carl Junction and the Tigers will try and nip a four-game losing streak in the bud. The Bulldogs (2-4) ended their own four-game skid with a 41-6 victory Friday night over winless Neosho.
