No. 8 Carthage to face No. 2 Republic
· Yahoo Sports
Friday’s Class 5 District 6 semifinal pits two top 10 teams against each other as the No. 2 Republic Tigers (8-1) host the No. 8 Carthage Tigers (7-3).
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The two teams met Oct. 16 with Republic holding on for a 26-22 win at RHS. I expect another close game this Friday, despite Republic coming off a bye week and Carthage getting banged up a little in its opening round 10-7 win against Webb City.
In their last meeting, Republic, the top-seed in Class 5 District 6, jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the opening period but Carthage was able to level the game in the second quarter. Republic outscored CHS, this year’s fourth seed, 12-7 in the third frame and held on for the win.
Against Webb City last week, Carthage running back Landon West, who has rushed for 1,327 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, was forced out early with what appeared to be a leg injury. Quarterback Slade Stiffler, who has thrown for 758 yards and run for 665 more, including 13 touchdowns, appeared to be playing through pain much of the game.
Their status for Friday is unknown but Carthage has other options in its arsenal as well, including receiver Tate Nichols (a capable rusher) and receivers Jett Dalton, Blake Wicklund and tight end Joey Wingert.
If CHS is to have success on Friday, those players and the Carthage defense will have to rise to the occasion and find a way to stop one of the best running backs in the state in Republic junior Nolan Lashley. He is averaging 164 yards per game and has 28 total touchdowns this season.
In their last meeting, Lashley ran for 191 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Republic quarterback Brandon Overstreet threw just one pass in the game and their other signal caller, Brennan Overstreet, was 0 for 2 through the air, so Carthage knows what to expect from the Republic team — a heavy dose of Lashley.
RHS is averaging just 4 passing yards a game while Carthage’s offense is a much more balanced attack.
Carthage is averaging 285 ypg on the ground and another 86 through the air and Stiffler has done a good job of spreading the ball around, with 12 different CHS players logging receptions this season. West leads the receivers with 186 yards on 12 catches. Dalton has 178 yards on eight catches and Nichols has 149 yards on nine catches.
Swiss Army knife — return man, placekicker and defensive back — Malachi Dougless could be an X factor in this game, as he is a threat to run it back anytime he catches the ball.
Carthage’s offense is scoring 38.3 ppg while the defense is giving up 18.6. Republic’s numbers are similar, as the Tigers in orange and black are scoring at a 36.3 clip while allowing 16.1 ppg.
Republic enters the semifinal on a six-game win streak, with their lone loss coming against the second-ranked team in Class 6, Nixa, (8-1) by a 49-6 score. Carthage got back on the winning track against Webb City after dropping the 4-point loss to Republic and a 3-point loss to Neosho in a 51-48 game.
This matchup might be the must-see game of the week as Carthage looks to advance to the district finals against the winner of second-seeded Neosho (9-1) and third-seeded Branson (9-1).
This one is well worth the trip to Republic.