By Matt Smith
For seven straight seasons, Springfield has competed for a District 1 championship. For seven straight seasons, the Cougars have failed to go the distance.
They have enjoyed a remarkable run of success, beginning in 2010 when Daily Times Player of the Year Matt Craig rushed for a school-record 1,996 yards and guided the Cougars to the District 1 Class 3A semifinal.
The Cougars got one step closer four years later with a stellar defense led by linebacker Adam Krauter, who was the 2014 Player of the Year. But they never reached the mountaintop.
Now the Cougars get another crack at taking home the district crown. And they’ll get that chance on their field, in front of a packed house.
No pressure, right?
“That was definitely motivation, getting that No. 1 seed and knowing that if we keep winning we would keep getting home games,” senior quarterback Johnny Fanelli said. “Playing this game at home, it’s just extra motivation for us.”
A 12-1 team with a Central League title share on its resume, Springfield doesn’t care where it plays for a district championship, but being at home sure helps. The thought of finally doing what no Springfield team has achieved is always on the minds of the Cougars, notably the senior class, many of whom were on the sidelines two years ago to watch Great Valley earn a 21-0 shutout.
The Cougars are poised not to repeat history, but to make their own.
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