SPRINGFIELD MAKES HISTORY AS SMOOT, DEFENSE LEAD TEAM TO STATE
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| Springfield takes on Dublin Coffman at Regional Final Game at London HS |
The Springfield Wildcats displayed all season that despite the odds, they were built to get to the State.
Coach Maurice Douglass, the Coach of the Year in Southwest Ohio, whole-heartedly thought so;
But, could the Cats actually make it happen for the first time in their rich history?
It would take a incredible effort in order to do so, as the Cats shut down Dublin Coffman 7-3 to win the OHSAA Regional Title in a defensive grind at London High School on Friday night.
When the chips were down, two of the entities that the Wildcats have leaned on the most this season?
Came through in the clutch. These entities?
QB Te'Sean Smoot and the vaunted Cats defense.
And both keys were no more evident in the 2nd half than in the biggest win in Springfield history.
In the first half Dublin Coffman controlled the tempo of the game, as their defense was able to keep the Cats offense off the scoreboard and hold a slim 3-0 lead. Coffman ran the West Coast style offense, but used more of a running game to move the ball to get on the board in the first quarter.
Springfield had 2 opportunities to score in the first half; but was foiled on both attempts, as Coffman would bend but not break.
While the opportunities seemed to frustrate Springfield, the Cats came out in the 2nd half and showed that they would not be denied as Top Recruit and Super Sophomore Te'Sean Smoot directed the offense on a game-clinching drive, one that saw Smoot dive over the pile, showing his willingness to give himself up for the team.
Smoot, a sophomore, is one of the rare types who, when you watch him throw in practice, you know you are watching a young living legend in motion.
But it was Smoots' mental intelligence that helped him lead the Cats to the first of possibly a few State Semifinal Berths.
Smoot, the day before Coffman game, was as laser focused as we have seen in a player of his age and statue. His throwing style and ability to put the ball on the money, is second to none in high school.
But it was his natural football instincts and his knowledge of the game which propelled him and the Cats to the next level.
In the 1st half, Smoot was a little off his target, which, on a blistery cold night (30 degrees) against a State type of defense? Could be considered normal. Smoot, despite the ineffectiveness in the first half, was never rattled, even when it was obvious that the Cats had blown two great opportunities.
Instead, under the tutorials of a legend himself in Chris Wallace, the former Wildcat great and Arena Football Legend, Smoot has blossomed into one of the elite quarterbacks in the State. Regardless of Class.
Right now.
And his ability to run a offense which features the likes of dynamic players such as RB-KR Jeff Tolliver, WR Larry Stephens Jr, RB Tavion Smoot and others, has been paramount to the success.
After taking a 7-3 lead the Cats leaned on their defense, which brought the lumber. They were hitting hard, and sending a message, led by top tacklers Xzerious Stinnett, Robert Holtz, Jokell Brown, and Jaivian Norman.
While Coffman threatened in the 2nd half, the defense tightened up every time. Conley Smoot, the Defensive Coordinator, did a excellent job of preparing the Cats for the tough offense Coffman ran.
"Smoot has done a great job; his attention to detail on a week to week basis is incredible." Douglass boasted.
Douglass felt like if he was given 5 years, would be able to possibly get results like this.
Welcome to the big time Springfield.
Springfield will be taking on Cincinnati Elder in Piqua on Friday night in the State Semifinals.
DOUGLASS NABS COACH OF THE YEAR HONOR
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| Maurice Douglass, former Kentucky Star and NFL DB, is Southwest Ohio D-1 Coach of the Year |
Maurice Douglass, Head Coach of the Springfield Wildcats, garnered the Southwest Ohio Coach of the Year in football after leading the Wildcats to a 12-1 record and their first ever State Semifinal berth.
Douglass took over Springfield in 2015, with the intentions of turning around the program in five years. And, true to form, the Wildcats have reached their first ever OHSAA State berth.
Douglass, who played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, coached the Trotwood Rams back to prominence before taking on the Springfield opportunity.
At the time? Springfield was going nowhere fast.
Douglass would host the infamous "Satellite Camp" that the NCAA would disallow just a year later after a myriad of D-1 coaches would be in attendance for the High School Football Camp, which would anger the big boys in the NCAA department.
However, that camp, which would have over 400 kids in attendance, would give Douglass and the Cats what they needed:
Exposure.
Once people understood that Douglass had the keys to the progam at Springfield? The results spoke for themselves.
With 3 playoff appearances and a State Semifinal berth, its safe to say the Springfield Wildcats are a program on the rise.
Douglass and the Wildcats will take on Cincinnati Elder in the State Seminfinals on Friday.
"We Are Making History every day" Douglass stated elatedly.
Indeed they are.
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