Barber’s late field goal is the difference in a close shave for Springfield

RADNOR — However it was to unfold, Brett Barber had one consistent plan for his weekend. Whenever he was asked, he was going to trot onto a field and commence kicking.

Saturday, he would be ready to play soccer for Springfield.

Friday, he would play football hero.

In a game affected by rain but decided by grit, Barber swished a career-long 40-yard field goal with four seconds left to send the visiting Cougars to a 10-7 Central League victory over Radnor that for most of the night seemed unlikely.

Playing without starting quarterback Kevin Rechner for the final 12:17, yet rallying behind junior Matt Ellison, the Cougars scored all of their points in the final 3:05 to even their Central League record at 1-1.

The Raiders, trying to pad a 7-0 lead, saw Rob Longo intercept a long pass and race 70 yards for a touchdown, Barber supplying the PAT.

With 55.8 seconds left, Jack Clark made the Cougars’ fourth interception of the night at the Radnor 48. With 15.1 seconds showing and Springfield facing fourth-and-10 at the 36, Ellison tried to pass, saw a breakdown, and scrambled to the Raiders’ 22. Seconds later, coach coach Chris Britton did not hesitate to ask Barber to give the Cougars their first victory after an 0-2 start.

“He was here last year,” Britton said. “We knew what he could kick. We knew we had the wind. And he’s a solid kicker. It was the right call to make.”

There were complications. For one, the field was soggy, even if an earlier rain had stopped. For another, Barber’s regular holder is Rechner, who had to leave the game after absorbing a violent yet legal hit in the third quarter.

But Jake Vaughn, the backup holder, held on, Barber kept thinking about the helpful advice he’d been receiving from special teams coach Mike Gill and ignored Radnor’s ice-the-kicker timeout. And with about a yard to spare, he calmly provided the go-ahead score. After an ensuing kickoff, it would be the game-winner.

“I had a lot of confidence in Jake Vaughn,” Barber said. “He stepped up to the plate after Kevin Rechner got hurt. And he knew what to do. He’s perfect.”

On that play, everything worked for Springfield. But not much worked for either team in a game with no first-half points, six total interceptions and a couple of odd touchdowns.

Radnor scored first when defensive lineman Elijah Hall gathered a blocked punt and raced 30 yards for a touchdown with 6:56 left in the third quarter. Jack Lindgren’s placement provided a 7-0 cushion that, on that night, almost seemed to be enough.

That’s when Longo ordered a change of plans.

“Our offense was driving, but we couldn’t finish it,” said Longo, who had two catches for 40 yards. “Once I picked it off, I knew I had to punch it in the end zone. I had to. The rain was a factor for both teams. But once it stopped, we had to step up.”

Radnor (2-1, 1-1) enjoyed 118 passing yards from Sam DiLella, 35 of them to Reece Evans. But the Raiders never could take control, thus allowing the realities of Central League balance to surface.

“We just didn’t capitalize on some opportunities,” Radnor coach Tom Ryan said. “And it’s the Central League, man. Central League football. There are no easy games in the Central League, and Springfield is a good football team. So we’ll just have to bounce back, regroup and get ready for Strath Haven next week.”

As for Springfield, it will take a trip to Garnet Valley, certain of only one thing: With Rechner or Ellison, it will be fine at quarterback.

“I didn’t have any idea that I was going to get in the game,” said Ellison, who provided 63 yards of total offense in his brief relief appearance. “But you have to stay ready. You just have to stay mentally in the game and always know that you can go into the game and play at any minute.”

That’s what Springfield did Friday, staying mentally sharp long enough to squeeze out a victory. As for Saturday, Barber will be back with the soccer team, trying to win a game at Archbishop Carroll.

“Friday football, Saturday soccer,” Britton said. “He’s a busy man.”