It’s been a long time coming, but Republic football is back.
The Tigers beat Lebanon on the road Friday 35-32, winning a district championship for the first time in 18 years and earning a spot in the state quarterfinals for the first time in 28 years. They did it the way they’ve won all season — with a methodical, ball-control offense that helped them control the clock and the pace of the game; and with a tough defense that rose to the challenge to make one final stand with the game on the line.
The defense made two of the biggest plays of the night after Lebanon recovered an onside kick to keep its hopes alive, trailing 35-32. With a little over a minute remaining, Kendell Curbow had a sack and Braydin Casey followed that up with a quarterback pressure that led to an incomplete pass. On fourth and long, Lebanon threw another incompletion to help the Tigers seal the win.
Republic and Lebanon are mirror images of one another on both offense and defense, and they played like mirror images Friday night, trading punches and touchdowns until the clock finally ran out with the Tigers on top.
The Tigers scored on their first possession to take the lead. With 5:10 left in the first quarter, Wyatt Woods scored on a six-yard TD run and Mason Cole’s extra point made it 7-0.
Lebanon answered quickly. less than a minute later, Yellowjackets quarterback Gavin Smith scampered 67 yards to the end zone and it was 7-7.
The Tigers scored again on their second possession with 2:29 left in the first quarter. After a 50-yard run by Kanon Krol put Republic deep into Lebanon territory, Krol ran it in from three yards out to make it 14-7.
Republic got the first big break of the game but failed to take advantage when Lebanon fumbled the ball away near the goal line on its next drive. But the Tigers failed to score on their ensuing possession, and Lebanon went on to tie the score with 11 seconds remaining in the half on a pass to Jax Glendenning. The teams were tied 14-14 at half.
Lebanon was supposed to get the ball to start the second half, but Mason Cole’s onside kick was executed perfectly. Kendell Curbow leaped high into the air to snag the ball and give the Tigers a chance to take the lead. They did a few minutes later on a one-yard TD plunge by Woods, and it was 21-14.
On Lebanon’s next drive, the Republic defense came up big, holding the Jackets to a field goal. With 2:20 left in the third quarter, Republic led 21-17.
The Tigers put together another slow, consistent drive that ate up about six minutes of clock on their next possession. Their 63-yard drive ended on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Woods to Caide White, giving the Tigers a 28-17 lead. It was the first touchdown pass Woods has thrown to anyone besides James Rexroat all season, and it gave Republic a two-possession edge.
Lebanon scored to pull back to within one score when Smith ran the ball in from one yard out with 5:39 remaining. That made the score 28-25, but Republic got two long runs—one from Woods and one from Kanon Krol—to set up another touchdown. This time Krol scored from five yards out, and Republic led 35-25.
The Yellowjackets made a game of it again, though, with a quick drive and score over the final five and a half minutes. A one-yard run by Smith put the Jackets back in striking distance, trailing 35-32. And when Lebanon recovered an onside kick, they had a chance to tie or win it before Republic’s defense made its last stand.
The loss for Lebanon was the first of the season. They finish their year 10-1. Republic improves to 10-2 and advances to the state quarterfinals, where the Tigers will play Jefferson City Helias at home. That game is scheduled for next Saturday at 1 p.m.