Bullock bounces back as Springfield survives an Ace Lower Merion effort

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LOWER MERION — Frank Bullock cited trust often Saturday, in his blockers, his kick coverage team, his offensive teammates. Implicit was the trust he had in himself.

What had been a rough first half for Springfield wasn’t on his mind. All he thought about was what lay ahead. Then, in a game-changing sequence, Bullock blasted a punt 60 yards that was fumbled backward into the end zone for a safety. He followed by returning the free kick 65 yards for a touchdown to spark a 36-14 Springfield win over Lower Merion.

Saturday wasn’t a great offensive day for the Cougars (6-2, 5-2 Central). Bullock the receiver was targeted seven times without making a catch, quarterback Jack Psenicska struggled (9 for 23, 76 yards). But Psenicska did have three TD passes. And Bullock impacted the game in other ways, like a booming punt that had return man Jaden Helton baffled. He bobbled it near the 20, finally picked it up at the 5 but carried it into the end zone for long-snapper Pat Clemens to pursue and bury him, putting Springfield up 22-14.

“When I’m out there and I kick it, I trust my teammates to get to the ball as quick as they can,” Bullock said. “And you’ve just got to hit it as far as you can.”

Added Clemens: “I guess I was just in the right spot at the right time.”

It’s not the last time either would factor into the scoring. Bullock was up first on the kick, catching at the 35 and plunging into a crowd near midfield with a head of steam. But he found his way out of the tangle, cut right and dashed past the chasing Aces. Within 11 seconds, a 20-14 game had become 29-14.

Clemens added a score two minutes later, the linebacker dropping into coverage, reading quartetrback Matt O’Connor’s eyes and picking him off, rumbling 26 yards untouched for the score.

The Springfield defense allowed 415 yards of offense to the Aces, but pitched a second-half shutout. O’Connor was 23-for-35 for 293 yards, but he was constantly under pressure.

Earlier, Psenicska had just gotten Springfield back within a point via an eight-yard scoring hookup with Jack Spence with a minute left in the second quarter, and O’Connor was orchestrating the Aces’ two-minute offense. But Jeff Biancaniello charged into the backfield to hit O’Connor, who appeared to be in a throwing motion. The referees ruled it a fumble, which was caught before it hit the ground by a diving Geo Dotsicas at the 40.

With the short field, it took four plays for Psenicska to find Alex Williams, who made a great adjustment on a corner route while being interfered with, for a 10-yard touchdown with three seconds left.

“We try to get as much pressure as we can on them,” defensive end Andrew Johnson said. “We practice it every day. No matter what, every passing team we go against, it all starts with us.”

Lower Merion (1-7, 1-6) found early success through the air. O’Connor dropped a perfect go route into Helton’s hands for a 58-yard score, then Helton took a lateral 51 yards to the house in the second quarter to stake LM to a 14-7 lead. Helton caught nine passes for 213 yards plus 49 on the ground.

“Jaden does a lot for us, and coach does a good job designing plays to get him the ball,” O’Connor said. “He does a lot because no one can really guard him in this league. His speed is just incredible.”

Ben Konah broke off a couple of big runs for Springfield, finishing with 13 carries for 134 yards. But it embellished the final total for a Cougars offense that posted 241 yards, just 88 in the second half. Even that was enough for the defense to get the job done.

“I think it shows we can adjust when we’re under adversity,” Clemens said.

Matthew De George

Matthew De George
Matthew De George is the Asst. Sports Editor and the lead Union writer for The Daily Times.

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