Tigers fall to Helias in overtime heartbreaker

Jefferson City Helias ended Republic's playoff run with a 24-21 overtime win in the state quarterfinals at Republic, Saturday. The Crusaders won on Nic Calvaruso's 36-yard field goal after a controversial call late in regulation kept Helias' hopes alive.
With Republic leading 21-14 and trying to run out the clock, Izaiah Hull gained eight yards but lost the football as he was tackled. Though one official initially appeared to rule Hull down, Helias was granted possession after a conference.
The Crusaders capitalized when Austin Weaver found Logan Hillman for a touchdown with 1:17 remaining. The 6-foot-3 Hillman leaped over tight coverage to pull in the fourth-and-14 pass, and the extra point tied the game at 21 with just over one minute remaining.
"They played well enough to win," coach Ryan Cornelsen said of his players. "It's not on them, it's on me. I've got to do a better job of making sure I've got a second half script that's going to work. [Helias] stuffed the second half. We couldn't move it."
The Tigers had built a 21-14 halftime lead behind Preston McCracken's three touchdown runs. Republic struck first on its opening drive, going 80 yards in nine plays. McCracken's one-yard run capped the drive. After Helias tied it on Weaver's one-yard run, McCracken scored from four yards out to put Republic back on top.
Helias answered with Weaver's 84-yard touchdown pass to Luke Swan, but Republic responded with another methodical drive. The Tigers marched 65 yards in 12 plays, with McCracken scoring from one yard out for a 21-14 halftime advantage.
McCracken finished with 145 yards on 27 carries. Hull added 126 yards on 26 attempts as Republic accumulated 298 rushing yards. Weaver finished with 242 passing yards and added 80 yards rushing for Helias. Mason Fleetwood contributed 17 rushing yards and Owen Klier added 10 for Republic, while McCracken completed one pass for 17 yards.
"I thought we played really well. I was proud of our kids. I just asked them to play hard and play smart, and they did that," Cornelsen said. "There's nothing I can say to them that's going to make them feel any better. It's part of athletics. It's part of sports."
The loss ended Republic's season at 10-3. Helias advanced to this week's semifinal against Lafayette (Wildwood).