REPUBLIC, Mo. — Neosho fell into a first-half hole too great to climb out of as the Wildcats fell 63-48 to the Tigers on Friday.
With the loss, Neosho, who came into the contest averaging 52 points per game, falls to 2-2 and the Tigers improve to 2-2.
The first drive looked like it would be a precursor to another strong night by the Wildcats after they opened with a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quenton Hughes to WR Isaiah Green on third-down and 9 for a 7-0 lead.
It was a lead that would not last long.
The Tigers’ first drive lasted two plays, with quarterback Wyatt Woods busting loose for a 51-yard run into the endzone to trim the lead to 7-6.
After a three-and-out from Neosho, Republic’s Connor Sandridge rumbled in from 2 yards out with 5:37 to go in the first quarter to put the Tigers in front 13-7.
A series of penalties on Republic’s third drive pinned had the Tigers facing a third and 17 with 1:41 in the first period. However, a deep-pass reception was fumbled and looked to have been recovered by Neosho, but the receiver was ruled down to allow Republic to keep possession. Two plays later, Woods punched into the endzone and with 11:19 left in the first half to make the score 21-7 Republic after a two-point conversion.
Neosho answered back on the first play of its next drive with a deep touchdown pass from Hughes to Green with 11:02 in the half for a 21-13 score.
Republic built the lead up to 28-13 with less than four minutes to go in the first half after Kanon Krol rumbled in from 1 yard out with 3:45 to go in the half before Woods ran it in from 9 yards out with 22 seconds before halftime to push the margin to 35-13.
Neosho opened the second half with an onside kick, which they recovered on the Republic 48, and Jared Siler blasted a 48-yard run for a score to time the Wildcats’ deficit to 35-20.
Both teams traded blows in the second half until Republic’s final score came with 2:35 left in the fourth quarter, as Sandridge broke off a 21-yard touchdown run to wrap the scoring for the Tigers. Neosho added a 30-yard touchdown run from Siler with 1:55 to go.
Neosho hits the road for a matchup at Carthage on Friday.
