Five Republic football players earned Class 5 All-State honors following the team’s 9-3 season. Junior defensive back Keiran Govan received first-team recognition, leading a group of five Tigers selected to the annual list.
Govan, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior, recorded 57 tackles, including 47 solo stops. He intercepted four passes, returning one 106 yards for a school-record touchdown. Govan also contributed on offense with four receiving touchdowns.
Seniors Landon Harper and Kaleb Norman were named to the second team. Harper, a Central Michigan signee, anchored an offensive line that helped Republic average 340.7 rushing yards per game. Norman led the defense with 100 total tackles, including 78 solo stops. He also recorded 10 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Quarterback Preston McCracken and kicker Elijah Phiri earned third-team honors. McCracken, selected as an athlete, led Republic in rushing from the quarterback position with 1,365 yards, averaging nearly eight yards per carry. He scored 20 rushing touchdowns and added 400 passing yards and six passing scores.
Phiri converted 58 of 66 extra points and set a school record with a 45-yard field goal. He also handled kickoff duties, routinely forcing touchbacks.
Class 5 All-State Selections
- First Team: Keiran Govan (DB)
- Second Team: Landon Harper (OL), Kaleb Norman (LB)
- Third Team: Preston McCracken (Athlete), Elijah Phiri (K)
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