CARTHAGE –– One problem for Republic was the fact that Tyler Mueller reads the newspaper.
The Carthage running back hadn't forgotten about what was reported in one mid-October story that followed his team's 42-26 win over Republic in the regular season.
"Yea, Republic said they wanted another shot at beating us again," Mueller said. "I just wanted to prove we were the better team again."
The junior took care of his part, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in a 49-10 Carthage win Friday night in a Class 5 District 6 semifinal at David Haffner Stadium.
"There was a motivation factor tonight, for sure," Mueller said. "But really, being in the playoffs is all the motivation we really need. It's win or you're done, and we're not done after tonight."
The triumph advances Carthage (9-1) to the district final to take on Parkview, a 42-41 winner over Nixa, on Nov. 9 in Carthage.
Fresh off a first-round bye, Carthage scored 42-plus points for a fifth consecutive game as it found the end zone on seven of its 10 drives.
Following a 29-10 score at halftime, the Tigers used a 20-0 run that prompted a running clock by the end of the third quarter.
Mueller, who had a 53-yard run in the first quarter to put his team up 7-0, capped the scoring for the night with a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:55 left in the third.
Friday marked Mueller's first 100-yard rushing game since he suffered an ankle injury in Week 4. The running back now has four 100-yard games on the season.
"I think he is (healthy again)," Carthage coach Jon Guidie said. "We thought we had him back against Ozark (in Week 9). He just played one half and I think he had 80 yards. But he had a huge night tonight."
After giving up a season-high point total to Republic three weeks earlier, the Carthage defense only gave up one touchdown and a field goal in the first half before shutting out Republic in the second half.
Republic finished with 119 yards of offense and eight first downs, just two coming after halftime.
"I thought we defended them much better," Guidie said. "We tackled them better, we got off the field on third downs, we limited their big plays. I think that was the biggest difference from the first game."
For Carthage quarterback Patrick Carlton, who had 372 yards of offense and five touchdowns in the first meeting with Republic, Friday night was simply more of the same.
The sophomore signal caller amassed 309 yards and five touchdowns. He had 19 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and also went 7-of-11 passing for 165 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Jayden Morgan hauled in two of the touchdown catches, with the longest going for 63 yards to put Carthage up 42-10 with 4:40 left in the third quarter.
Senior Colton Winder also logged a touchdown catch on a 29-yard pass from Carlton just 2 1/2 minutes into the second half.
"We wanted to run the football early, and I thought we came out and used Ty and Pat well," Guidie said. "And when we had a chance to mix in some play-action, it was really good because of that."
Midway through the third quarter, Carthage quarterback Zeke Sappington made his first game appearance since suffering a broken hand in a Week 4 game at Neosho. The senior, who started all of last season and the first four games of the current campaign, was in for just one five-play touchdown drive. He carried the ball twice for gains of three and 10 yards.
"It's just been day-to-day for him," Guidie said. "(His hand) is still sore and we're still treating it. But we're slowly getting him back to where he's 100 percent. But as you saw tonight, he can still run the football and do good things."

-Jared Porter, Joplin Globe Sports

Carthage Tigers 49, Republic Tigers 10
Republic      3      7      0     0 - 10
Carthage    14    15    20    0 - 49

Scoring
C - Tyler Mueller 53 yard run (Marcus Huntley kick)
R - Andrew Flippin 27 yard field goal
C - Patrick Carlton 8 yard run (Huntley kick)
C - Carlton 2 yard run (Huntley kick)
R - Riley Sigman 12 yard run (Flippin kick)
C - Jayden Morgan 14 yard pass from Carlton (Huntley run)
C - Colton Winder 29 yard pass from Carlton (pass failed)
C - Morgan 63 yard pass from Carlton (Huntley kick)
C - Mueller 14 yard run (Huntley kick)