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Road vets Springfield ready for trip
By Tom Williams
NEW MIDDLETOWN
A lengthy road trip for a playoff game is nothing new for several members of the Springfield High School football team.
The Tigers (7-3 and co-champions of the Inter Tri-County League Tier One) will travel for a little more than two hours to Ashland County to play unbeaten Loudonville on Friday.
In June 2013, Tigers running back Ryan Kohler was a starter when the Springfield baseball team played in the Division IV championship game at Huntington Park in Columbus. Also on that team were defensive lineman Mark Schuler, quarterback Graham Mincher, tight end Brandon Chamberlain and defensive back Ian Grdina.
“The atmosphere was just amazing and I hope it’s the same for the football game,” Kohler said of the fan support that followed the Tigers to Columbus.
“I remember for the whole entire game, I couldn’t feel my voice,” Shuler said. “I could barely talk, I was screaming so loud.”
The Redbirds (10-0) are the top seed in Division I, Region 19 while the Tigers are the eighth seed.
“Everybody is saying we don’t have a shot, but that’s just going to push us,” Kohler said. “Saying we shouldn’t be here is just giving us extra drive.”
It was a wild season for the ITCL Tier One. Last Friday, the Tigers lost to South Range (6-4) to create a three-way tie for first place between Springfield, South Range and Crestview, all with 5-2 league records. The Tigers finished two spots ahead of the Raiders in the Region 19 playoff ratings.
Tigers head coach Sean Guerriero said he’s never participated in league race that had so many teams in contention that late in the season.
“Our last three games, boy, there was a lot on the line,” said Guerriero of wins over Crestview and Lisbon, and the 43-20 loss to South Range.
Had the Tigers won that game, they alone would have been league champions.
“We’ve bounced back from our losses,” Guerriero said. “This [game] is hopefully redemption for us, for not being able to take care of business.”
It won’t be easy. Led by senior quarterback Kolton Edmondson, the Redbirds are an offensive powerhouse. In one game, they scored 79 points; they surpassed 60 in two others.
“Schematically, they are a combination of Columbiana, Jackson-Milton and Lowellville,” Guerriero said. “They are a five-wide, trips two-by-two team that has a great running quarterback.
“They’re try to lull you to sleep with him running fakes, then they push the ball vertically,” Guerriero said. ”He can break it at any time. He kind of reminds me of [South Range’s Joe] Alessi because he’ll hit the hole and then you see him go through people.
“He’s definitely a unique player, we just have to make sure to wrap him up.”
Schuler said the Redbirds remind him of Columbiana, which runs a spread offense led by sophomore quarterback Mitch Davidson. In Week 5, the Tigers defeated the Clippers, 63-35.
Guerriero says the main difference between the teams is that the Redbirds have jumped out to so many huge leads early that they have coasted in their second halves.
He thinks that can be a factor.
“If we can make it where it’s tied or close at halftime, I definitely believe that we can [contend],” Guerriero said.
Springfield has earned its first playoff berth since 2011 when the Tigers lost at Sugarcreek Garaway.
“The atmosphere was just completely different,” Schuler said. “There were so many people at that game, so much excitement. Thinking back, it kind of gives you chills a little bit.”
Kohler isn’t ready to settle for just qualifying.
“To make the playoffs is great, but we want to win a playoff game,” Kohler said.