No stopping Clemens as Springfield tops Ridley in triple OT

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RIDLEY TWP. – Deep in the recesses of the Springfield playbook is the contingency play. Consider it the, “in case of emergency, break glass” call.

Behind the glass: Somewhat reluctant running back Pat Clemens.

So Saturday night, with Springfield facing fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line in triple overtime against Ridley – needing to score before the Green Raiders got their shot, and already stopped twice from the one – the Springfield coaching staff broke out its claw hammer to set off the alarm.

Clemens obliged with a touchdown run, his first carry of a varsity career that began as a freshman, then the Springfield defense held after Ridley had scored to deny a two-point try and walk out a 17-16 winner in a Central League tilt that was scoreless through regulation.

To hear Clemens discus his mentality on the inside handoff, the Springfield coaching staff chose wisely.

“They know that I would give anything for this team,” Clemens said. “I would live or die for this team. So it’s just one yard. I’d give anything I’ve got. I’m not going to go down. I’d go through anybody. … I think it was more just, I need this for myself, I need this for the community, just get in there. I know everybody’s counting on me for just that one yard.”

On a night that summed to a barren wasteland of offense, it’s no surprise that the last laugh went to the defense. Ridley’s Hassan Chandler scored on third-and-goal in the third OT to get Ridley within a point. Coach Dave Wood dialed up a pitch to Elijah Yakpasuo on the PAT, but the Cougars (3-0, 2-0 Central) strung it out, Jack Spence pushing Yakpasuo out of bounds a yard from the goal line.

The game belonged to the defenses. The teams combined for 23 first downs and 12 punts. Each side barely nudged over 100 yards of net offense (Ridley 142, Springfield 111) thanks to an abundance of flags.

Springfield stifled the option offense of Ridley (0-3, 0-2) to 184 yards on 39 carries. Clemens was a constant disruptor, and linemen Jeff Biancaniello and Colin Shane burst into the backfield incessantly to set the edges and bottle up ball-carriers.

“We know whenever our offense isn’t doing good, we’ve got to step up,” Biancaniello said. “I think we’ve been playing good. I credit all of the d-line and Pat, everyone played great tonight.”

Ridley held Springfield to 45 rushing yards on 26 carries (with leading carrier Ben Konah allowed just seven carries for 39 yards). They sacked Jack Psenicksa four times, one a strip sack recovered by Bryce Regan, and caused a fumble on a blocked-punt return by Liam DiFonzo. Psenicska was 13-for-25 for 121 yards.

“Our d-line’s amazing,” Regan said. “They stop everything that comes to them. … They’re the hardest d-line I know, and the backers were filling every gap we can.”

Only two plays stretched beyond 20 yards all night. A sensational 28-yard diving catch by Spence in the fourth quarter was the only one in regulation. The other threatened to be the difference-maker.

Springfield made quick work of its first-OT possession, with Psenicska hitting Ian Deal with a five-yard out route to remind those in attendance what a touchdown looked like. A Ridley late hit after the extra point threatened to end the Green Raiders’ night, starting them at first-and-goal at the 25, down 7-0.

But on fourth down, Jack Bakey threw a deep post to Yakpasuo that hung up long enough for the back to grab it and tie the game at 7.

“We all started screaming and running,” Regan said. “It was amazing.”

“We thought we had them,” Biancaniello said. “But they got the touchdown. So we had to bounce back. We couldn’t fold because there was still time to score in the next overtime. We just had to go as hard as we could and we just had to do it.”

The second OT was reserved for the kickers. Nate Warwick aced a 24-yarder, then Brett Barber hit from 22 (after a false start wiped out a Psenicksa touchdown).

Clemens took care of the third-OT score, with Barber kicking the PAT for a 17-10 lead. It turned out that Clemens’ effort – that “you aren’t stopping me” mentality – was perfect for the moment. As for Clemens’ backfield prospects, the All-Delco linebacker isn’t scheduling extra offensive meetings just yet.

“I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “I hope I get the ball more, but I doubt it.”

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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