Springfield routs Lower Moreland in season opener

Springfield doesn’t get many opportunities to play other PIAA Class AA opponents on its schedule but like to make sure it sends a message when it does.

Friday night, in the Spartans’ season opener, they got that opportunity and made sure it made the most of its chance as they crushed visiting Lower Moreland 42-0.

“Our goal this year with out a question is the go back to back (District One) AA champs,” Springfield coach Chris Shelly said. “Hopefully we sent a message tonight, not only to us, but to other people that we’re in it to win it.”

All of the Springfield damage, and scoring, was taken care of in the first half. In the opening drive of the game the Spartans went 45 yards in nine plays in just over five minutes. The drive would be the longest of the six Spartan scoring drives as it was capped by four yard Justin Hill run.

The next two drives were ended with Brett Righter touchdowns. The first a 77-yard dash right up the middle, and the second a 29-yard screen pass in which he stumbled and weaved his way through the Lion defense.

“Basically I just got the ball, and I knew they were a little slower than us, and I’ve been working on my speed so I just had to run,” Righter said of his first touchdown. “And then on the pass, I almost fell over, but I caught it, I had a nice block, I saw the one guy coming so I spun off and I knew where the end zone was.”

Although the Spartan offense was dominant, scoring on all six first half possessions, the defense was equally as impressive as the Lions managed only two first downs in the half, one coming by way of penalty.

“We lost a lot of our people (to injury) but I guess we weren’t ready to play,” Lower Moreland coach Mark Mayson said. “The injuries were not what we were hoping for. It was a tough night all the way around.”

Ben Fisher and Drew Toutkoushian also provided some explosive plays for the Spartan offense as Fisher set up his own six-yard touchdown run with a 33-yard burst the play prior.

Toutkoushian was responsible for the final score of the offense onslaught as he ran in his only score of the night from 60 yards out.

With a brutal Suburban One American Conference schedule looming, the 1-0 start for Springfield is crucial. The Spartans will look to ride its momentum as its gets another crack at an AA team next week in Lansdale Catholic.