Springfield holds off Campbell

Saturday, August 26, 2006 The Tigers answered all the big plays by the Red Devils to win 28-21. By CHUCK HOUSTEAU VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT NEW MIDDLETOWN — Springfield High was able to answer all three of the big-play strikes by Campbell Memorial Friday to come away with a 28-21 victory over the Red Devils. Nate Schuler scored on a 2-yard run with 9:10 remaining in the game to give the Tigers the opening night win over a quick Campbell squad. The Tigers defense then clamped down and shut down Campbell on two late drives to gain the victory. "That was the key," said Springfield coach John Smith. "We were fortunate enough to overcome those big plays and we dealt with adversity better in the second half than we did in the first half. Red Devils' big plays Campbell scored on a 42-yard run and a 54-yard pass play in the first quarter and then got back in the game in the third quarter on a 75-yard return of a blocked field goal attempt. Each time, the Tigers were able to answer those plays with scoring drives of their own to get back in the game and eventually win it. "I think that because we were able to answer those plays with scores of our own it gave us confidence," Smith said. "We had questions about whether we were going to be able to run the football but we answered them tonight." Richey leads Tigers Wingback Andy Richey rushed for 93 yards on 24 carries and he scored the Tigers' first touchdown of the season on a 15-yard run that tied the score 7-7 in the first quarter. Richey's score capped a 4-play, 67-yard drive highlighted by a Nate Schuler to John Zubrick 49-yard pass play. The drive answered Campbell's first score of a 42-yard run by Brandon Sibley at 6:41 of the first quarter. Campbell came right back and scored on the 54-yard pass play between quarterback Joe Faunda and Jermaine Richardson at 2:21 of the quarter to take a 14-7 lead. Springfield, though, tallied twice more in the second quarter on a 4-yard run by Jarrod Lewis and a 5-yard pass play from Schuler to Corey Cunningham with 2:53 left in the first half to give the Tigers a 21-14 lead at the break. Springfield took control of the game briefly in the third period and marched down to the Campbell 10-yard line when Bryan Visingardi lined up to attempt a 27-yard field goal that would have given the Tigers a 10-point lead. Banks makes big play Gerald Banks broke through the line and blocked the field goal and then picked it up and raced 75 yards for a score. Ryan Lopez extra point kick tied the score at 21. Two possessions later Springfield drove from the Campbell 48 in 6 plays to score the go-ahead touchdown by Schuler. "I was pleased with our performance tonight," Smith said. "Our kids stayed positive late in the game and kept their composure." Campbell had to battle against issues of depth, mistakes and injuries yet held their own until the fourth quarter. "I give our defense credit for hanging in there all night," said Campbell coach John Protopapa. "We only have 25-30 kids on the roster. We just have to get better. "We didn't move the ball in the second half." Springfield held Campbell to 98 yards of offense and take away the two big offensive plays of 42 and 54 yards, the Devils only had 2 more yards of positive yardage in the game. Springfield managed 293 yards of offense, including 110 passing yards by Schuler on 6-of-14 passing.