By Don Abernathy (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Beware all future Carthage opponents: The Tigers from Jasper County may have just discovered a new weapon.
Using the usual two-headed monster of quarterback Brady Carlton and running back Landyn Collins, Carthage dominated time of possession with its running game against Republic Friday night.
But it was the passing game that caught Republic by surprise and ultimately blew the game wide open, as Carthage rolled to a 31-14 Central Ozark Conference victory at Republic.
Carthage scored all but one of its four touchdowns through the air, including two scores from Carlton’s new favorite weapon senior tight end Karson Murray.
Carthage took the opening kickoff and methodically rushed 12 consecutive plays before Carlton connected with senior Trent Yates for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The drive went 80 yards and took nearly the first seven minutes of the game.
After forcing a three-and-out on Republic’s next possession, Carthage once again methodically used the running game to get the ball to midfield when Carlton found Murray for a 46-yard touchdown pass.
Murray was wide open and caught the ball at about the Republic 30-yard line and scored without a defender nearby for a 14-0 lead with just 27 seconds left in the first quarter.
“We started off the game hot and kept running, running, running,” Murray said. “That opened up the play action for us, and it left me wide open down the seam untouched.”
Carthage took a 21-0 lead late in the second quarter when Carlton scored on a 2-yard run up the middle. The score ended an 8-play, 56-yard drive.
“If you can establish that run game, and work some clock, then sometimes that play action opens up, and we were able to do that tonight,” Carthage head coach Jon Guidie said.
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Republic answered just before halftime with a long drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trenton Coleman to receiver Cannon Ellison. The score cut the lead to 21-7 with just five seconds left before halftime.
It was more of the same for Carthage on its first possession after halftime, as the Tigers used the running game once again to set up a long touchdown pass.
Carthage rushed the ball 8-straight plays to the Republic 29-yard line, then used play action to go over the top for a touchdown from Carlton to Murray once again.
“The second touchdown wasn’t designed for me,” Murray said. “I was running my go route and then I saw Brady go into a scramble, so I came back and I was wide open.
“I saw a gap, I got into it and waved my hand, and Brady was able to get me the ball.”
Republic got on the scoreboard again midway through the third quarter when Ellison scored on his second touchdown grab from Coleman to cut the lead to 28-14 just four seconds into the fourth quarter.
Murray finished with a game-high 83 yards receiving and had two touchdowns. Carlton went 7-for-10 passing for 152 yards and had three touchdown passes.
Carthage senior running back Landyn Collins rushed 20 times for 88 yards while Carlton added 60 yards on the ground and a rushing score.
“We ran the ball really hard tonight and that was the plan going into the game,” Collins said. “The offensive line blocked really well and we ran our tails off.”
Carthage racked up 176 yards rushing, had 152 yards passing, and improved to 6-1 in the victory. Republic finished with 171 yards on the ground, had 29 total passing yards, and fell to 5-2 on the year.
“Obviously, our kids did a great job up front of navigating their defensive fronts,” Guidie said. “They give you a couple different looks defensively, and I thought we executed the game plan very well.
“They communicated up front, and you have to be physical with a team like Republic, because you know they’re going to bring it every single play.”
Guidie singled out junior Landon Bland for his noteworthy performance without leaving the field Friday night.
“I have to mention Bland,” Guidie said. “He’s a starter at defensive end, and since we wanted to be in a two-tight end package offensively tonight, we made him a two-way starter, and he played every snap tonight.
“He battled through a couple of injuries, and he never came off the field. I was proud of him and his grit to be able to stay in there and play a full game.”
