REPUBLIC — Nolan Lashley is one of Missouri's angriest runners. The Republic junior will take an inside and hit the teeth of the line. For a regular running back, the play would gain two or three yards.
For Lashley, he’s turning short running plays into big gains. It’s one of his biggest skills and a reason why the Tigers are 6-1.
“He is fearless,” Republic head coach Ryan Cornelsen said. “He’s not afraid of where the hits may come. He just hits it hard and he finds a seam and he takes it."
High school golf: See which Springfield-area girls golfers qualified for the state championship
Lashley has rushed for 1,199 yards and has scored 24 touchdowns. According to MaxPreps, Lashley has scored the most touchdowns in Missouri. He also ranks No. 6 in the state in total rushing yards.
Since Cornelsen became Republic’s head coach in 2021, Republic’s run-first offense has confused opponents every week.
In Cornelsen’s tenure, Wyatt Woods has rushed for the most yards with 1,423 in 2023. A few more solid weeks, along with a deep postseason run, and Lashley can become one of the best running backs in school history.
“I try to never let my feet stop moving,” Lashley said. “I just try to run hard.”
Running hard is Lashley’s position simplified. There are a lot more nuances to his role. From bouncing the run outside to sprinting away from defenders, Lashley can do it all.
An outstanding offensive line has certainly helped.
“Our o-line is nasty,” Lashley said. “They are getting low and making a push. We have a really good o-line.”
Week 7: Breaking down Springfield-area high school football action
Republic’s offensive line has a front-row seat to the Lashley show. Sophomore right tackle Trenton Triplett has been moving defenders left and right, opening lanes for Lashley to run right through. He’s one of the most special players that Triplett has blocked for in his career.
“Anytime that I’m on the ground, Nolan is just doing something crazy. He did that huge dive into the end zone,” Triplett laughed. “He gets low and gets super aggressive. He can make something out of nothing.”
Republic’s offense is built on tempo and ball control. Lashley is at the heart of this movement, frustrating defenses and keeping them off the field. He’s one of the best in the state for a reason and has Republic dreaming of a deep playoff run.
“He takes a pounding, no doubt,” Cornelsen said. “Running the ball in our offense is not for the faint of heart. He takes pride in that and does a good job.”
Lashley will lead Republic’s offense into its biggest game of the season. The No. 3 Tigers will host No. 2 Carthage (6-1) on Friday, Oct. 16.
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: What's it like to block for Republic football's Nolan Lashley?