[tps_title]Springfield Cougars [/tps_title]
For Digital First Media — Matt Chandik
Senior linebacker Justin Shields, left, will be the leader of Springfield’s hard-nosed defense.
For Cougars, experience is an asset
SPRINGFIELD >> There’s an aura that surrounds Springfield’s football team, one of a team that knows it has the potential to play well into the season.
There’s an argument to be made that perhaps the Cougars arrived a year early when they were a Central League co-champion and made it to the District 1 Class 5A championship game last year before bowing out to Academy Park. If you subscribe to that theory, there’s a lot to like about this year’s edition, one that has playmakers all over the lineup.
“They were young last year, and I kind of thought that this would be our year,” Springfield coach Chris Britton said. “We graduated our quarterback (Johnny Fanelli) and (All-Delco wide receiver and defensive back Joe) Kennedy, but the nucleus is still there. … We have a good core group and JV had a good year, so hopefully we can fill some gaps with that.”
Britton has an unusual luxury, that of the entire starting defensive line returning. All-Delco defensive tackle Justin Shields, who doubles as the center on the offensive line, headlines a stout group that will give offenses fits. He’s flanked by fellow seniors Derek Strain, Dan Pennestri and Kevin Deal. Having a dominant line does wonders for the entire defense, too.
“I’m going to love it,” said safety Phil Shovlin, also the speed back complement to power back Ja’Den McKenzie on offense. “They’re not going to give the quarterback a lot of time. That’s going to be good for us and our two corners and even the linebackers. We’re going to be the top defense in Delco, I think.”
“It should be fun to get back at it with the same four as last year,” Shields added. “We’ve got a lot of experience playing with each other. Getting to do it another year will be fun and we’re just going to try to top what we did last year and get better each week.”
Offensively, the winner of the quarterback battle between Ben Konah and Jack Psenicska will have plenty of weapons to work with. There’s the aforementioned line, but few teams, if any, will have a pair of backs like the Cougars do. McKenzie, also an outside linebacker, rushed for 1,280 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, and he’s the guy who’ll handle the bulk of the between-the-tackles load. Shovlin, a track All-Delco, has the explosiveness to turn a small crack into a 60-yard touchdown.
“I just want to be the hammer, not the nail,” McKenzie said. “I just want to go, deliver the hit and keep going. It just motivates me to keep going.”
Springfield welcomes Kyle Long back after a year away from football. Long, a two-time lacrosse All-Delco who’s helped the Cougars to back-to-back state championships, brings speed and athleticism to the wide receiver position. He’s a gamebreaker with a penchant for busting big plays who should also see time at cornerback. Fellow lacrosse standout Jack Spence is another receiver and cornerback who ups the athleticism at those positions.
“It’s always nice to have athletes, and being a small school, everybody plays both ways,” Britton said. “(Long) will be on the field, let’s put it that way. I wouldn’t give him a definite label, but he’ll find his way around the field.”
There’s no time for the Cougars to shy away from the lofty expectations that a 12-2 season brought on, particularly not with the bulk of the team returning and re-adding a player like Long to the team. Springfield knows it’s going to get everyone’s best effort, and the Cougars don’t plan on backing down because of it.
“I expect it all,” Pennestri said. “I expect to win it all. Nothing less. We’ve got fire in our belly from last year from Academy Park and we’re definitely ready to put the work in.”
By Matt Chandik; For Pa Prep Live
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