Republic has advanced to the state semifinals three times, all during a five-year stretch in the 1980s. The Tigers played two of the semifinal games at home and one on the road, losing all three. Here’s how they turned out.
(Note: I’ve corrected the location of the 1982 semifinal, played at Republic, not Maryville.)
1982 at Maryville
Republic’s first trip to the semifinals was the most heartbreaking. The Tigers ended their season with a narrow defeat, 15-14, in the Class 3A state semifinals at home against Maryville. Despite leading into the final quarter, Republic was overtaken by a fourth-quarter drive and late score by the Spoofhounds. Maryville’s Mike Turner caught several key passes in the game, including a critical 49-yard catch on third-and-17 during the game-winning drive. Turner’s reception set up a touchdown, with the subsequent extra point putting Maryville ahead for good.
John Rote had a big game for Republic, recovering a fumble and returning it 30 yards for a touchdown, and rushing for 105 yards on offense, but Republic’s season ended with a record of 12-1 under coach Jim Chambers.
Maryville went on to trounce Duchesne in the finals, 22-0. Maryville’s Turner caught two touchdown passes in the Lion’s Club All-Star Game the following summer.
1985 vs. Pembroke Hill
Republic’s 1985 semifinal against Pembroke Hill, a private school in Kansas City, was the second one played in Republic. At that time, the football stadium stood where the Early Childhood Center is today.
An early mistake by Pembroke Hill turned into an unexpected score for the Raiders, when Damon McReynolds fumbled the opening kickoff, then picked it up and ran 86 yards for a touchdown, putting the Raiders on the path to a 17-0 victory.
Pembroke Hill shut down Republic’s powerful running game for most of the day, taking away the inside run from Blake Cramer, Republic’s all-state back—then controlling the edge to take away the rushing game on the outside, as well.
The Raiders hit a 44-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter to make it a two-possession lead and put even more pressure on the Tigers. A fourth-quarter touchdown put the game away, sending Pembroke Hill to the championship game.
Republic’s season concluded with an 11-2 record under head coach Eddie Miller.
1986 vs. Oak Grove
Playing in its second consecutive semifinal, Republic ended its season with a 35-14 loss at Oak Grove. Kevin Jenkins was central to Oak Grove’s success, scoring three touchdowns on the ground and converting an interception into a 60-yard return for a score. The vaunted Republic rushing attack struggled to gain traction—literally—on a controversially muddy field.
Republic’s defense got off to a strong start, halting an Oak Grove drive on a critical fourth-down in the first quarter. But Republic failed to move the ball, and Oak Grove scored its first touchdown after the punt. The Tigers blocked a punt later in the first half, but Oak Grove caught a break when the ball landed on a Republic player’s head, bounced away, and was recovered by Oak Grove for a first down.
Republic’s Charles Gilliland recovered a fumbled punt late in the second quarter, but again the Tigers were unable to get the ball in the end zone, and Oak Grove scored on its first drive of the third quarter to take a 21-0 lead.
Republic ended its season with a 12-1 record, tying the single-season win record set by the 1982 squad.
