Tigers roll past Kickapoo in homecoming rout

Republic crushed Kickapoo 49–17 in the schools’ first-ever football meeting Friday night. The Tigers piled up 494 total yards, including 447 on the ground, in the lopsided homecoming victory.
Preston McCracken led Republic’s offense with 140 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Izaiah Hull added 134 yards on nine carries.
Republic scored on its opening drive when McCracken ran for an 11-yard touchdown. After Kickapoo tied the game, the Tigers answered quickly. Mason Fleetwood’s five-yard touchdown run, set up by Hull’s 62-yard burst, put Republic ahead 14–7.
The Tigers poured it on in the second quarter. McCracken scored three more times before halftime to give Republic a 35–10 lead at the break.
Republic continued to dominate in the second half. Owen Klier and Matthew Pelfrey added touchdown runs to push the lead to 49–10 before Kickapoo scored late against the Tigers’ backups.
“I feel like we played really well,” said Republic coach Ryan Cornelsen. “I thought our kids were the more physical team. I told them that’s where the game’s going to be won, is who can move the line of scrimmage, and I felt like we did both sides of the ball, did a good job with the line of scrimmage, and that’s usually when we’re at our best.”
Republic’s defense stifled Kickapoo, holding the Chiefs to just 194 total yards. Quarterback Brooks Eaton completed only 8 of 20 passes for 43 yards.
The win improved Republic’s record to 3–1. The Tigers travel to Joplin next week.