RADNOR — A project more than a year in development culminated Friday for Springfield in a 63-14 victory over Radnor to complete a satisfying regular season. The next project began at once.
Though the Cougars improved to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the Central League, they immediately began to plan to win a playoff game, a District 1 Class 5A championship and more. And if that journey twists a certain way, that one stain on the record can be forgotten.
“We had a rough loss to Haven,” said sophomore linebacker and running back Tanner Coll, “but we kept it going. And now we are on a roll.”
As they arrived at Provost Field, the Cougars were ranked No. 3 in the District 1 5A power rankings behind only Chester and Strath Haven. Springfield fell, 19-15, at Strath Haven in Week 2 but since has posted an eight-game winning streak.
The Cougars would welcome a rematch somewhere down the district line.
“Absolutely,” said Coll, who uncorked a 50-yard second-quarter touchdown run. “I think our defense is going to step up, our offense will click more and maybe pass the ball more and get in the end zone.”
End-zone arrival was not a problem Friday for Springfield, which had a 28-0 lead before its second offensive possession.
After Ethan Marshall capped a 10-play, 72-yard game-opening drive with a one-yard TD burst, Brian Delaney returned an interception 30 yards for a score on the first play of the ensuing Radnor possession.
Four plays later, with Radnor in punt formation, Mike Friel pounced on an errant long snap in the end zone, then caught a two-point conversion pass from Mike Turner for a 21-0 lead. Radnor suffered the same fate on its next possession when Mike Smith recovered a high snap in the end zone.
“Our special teams did a great job,” coach Chris Britton said. “We had nine different kids score. That was a great team effort. They did all their homework and things worked out for us.”
The special teams dominance continued when the Cougars blocked the next punt at the Radnor 15, leading to a three-yard Turner touchdown two plays later. When Vinny Valerio returned the next Radnor punt 42 yards for a score and Sean Williams added one of his five PATs, Springfield had a 42-0 lead.
“On coaches, that’s on us,” Radnor coach Kyle Yeiter said. “It’s inexcusable. We just take ourselves completely out of games. We knew they were big and strong, and on their first drive, we made them go six and a half minutes. Then we give them five touchdowns in a row without them having to do anything.”
The Raptors were stopped on downs on their next opportunity, and one play later Coll went on his 50-yard tour.
“Our tackle, Gus (Bryan) came in and blew up the end,” he said. “I saw a lane and I just cut to the outside. It was an open field.”
Coll, who made consistent contributions at linebacker all season, was not likely to have many offensive opportunities this season with Springfield’s heavy reliance on the trusty Turner and Nate Romano in the running game. But his speed could provide an additional and vital offensive weapon in the postseason.
“He’s done a great job,” Britton said. “We brought him up early last year and we knew he was going to be flying for us. He plays both sides of the ball as a sophomore, and that’s pretty special right there.”
Though jolted, the Raptors (1-9, 0-7) responded to Coll’s run with a 55-yard TD sprint from Bryce Cohen. Ever active on defense, Cohen accumulated 73 rushing yards. Early in the third, Raptor Mikey Enright caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from junior Matt Szychulski.
“Mikey Enright is a star in the making,” Yeiter said. “He’s only a sophomore. He’s as good, I think, as any receiver in the Central League. It’s going to be nice building with him for the next two years. Matt Szychulski is back next year. We’ll return nine starters. That’s what we are looking to next year.”
Ryan Melati (18 yards) and T.J. Valetti (11 yards) squeezed in fourth quarter touchdowns before the Cougars turned for the postseason.
“We started this two years ago,” Britton said. “And after the loss in the playoffs last year, the kids just went to the weight room. This is what happens when you do things right.”
