By Steve wilaj

sports @vindy.com

NEW MIDDLETOWN

Springfield running back Ryan Kohler won’t overwhelm you with his words.

Safe to say, he isn’t the greatest interview, and his coach Sean Guerriero – who offered to whisper answers in his ear – knows it.

“He’s an intelligent kid — he has like a 3.5 (grade-point average),” Guerriero said. “But he does get nervous.”

But when it comes to the gridiron, it’s just the opposite for Kohler. While he’s quiet with his words, he’s loud with his legs.

The junior halfback rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns Friday night, as the Tigers defeated Lisbon, 49-10.

“When he get through those holes, it’s hard to catch him,” Guerriero said. “He has great vision and great speed, and if he does get through there, he’s gonna make a big play.”

That was evident by two Kohler rushes in the first half.

Nearly identical plays coming from 55 yards out, Kohler twice burst through huge holes created by the Springfield offensive line. Both times, he found the end zone.

Kohler’s first score put the Tigers up, 7-3. His second made it 21-3. He then capped a 199-yard first half with a 7-yard TD run.

“It just happens,” Kohler said. “You just hit the hole, then you gotta run.”

He added another 7-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter before teammate Anthony Scandy also got in the mix.

Scandy, who finished with 85 rushing yards, found the end zone from 65 yards away. Frankie Centafonti scored the last touchdown on a 1-yard run. In all, Springfield (6-2, 4-1 Inter Tri-County League, Tier One) rushed for 386 yards on 36 carries.

“Our line has been doing a great job the past couple weeks,” Guerriero said. “We kind of made a switch of what we’ve been doing recently and attacked the ground. So hats off to our offense, and defense too.”

Tigers quarterback Graham Mincher completed 9 of 12 passes for 131 yards. He connected with tight end Mark Schuler for a 27-yard TD in the second quarter.

Lisbon (2-6, 1-4) struggled throughout. The Tigers held the Blue Devils to 218 total yards and committed three turnovers. Lisbon’s lone touchdown was scored by Austin Davis on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Danny Schultz was Lisbon’s leading rusher with 69 yards, while quarterback Josh Liberati connected on 8 of 15 passes for just 31 yards. Mike Allgower had two interceptions for Springfield.

“Our defense is playing phenomenal football the past couple weeks,” Guerriero said. “Our kids are focused throughout the week and we just have to make sure we continue to do that.”

This will be especially important when the Tigers prepare for a tough test at rival South Range next week, Guerriero said.

“I have a lot of respect for [South Range] coach [Dan] Yeagley and I think it’s gonna be a great game,” he said.