Kohler, Mincher lead scrappy Tigers in heart-fueled loss to Loudonville

By JON SPENCER

Mansfield News Journal

LOUDONVILLE

Loudonville put out a welcome mat — for itself — and then used it to yank the legs out from under its opponent, beating Springfield 28-14 in Friday night’s Division VI playoff opener.

Playing their first home game in five weeks, Justin Todd’s top-seeded Redbirds (11-0) advanced to the second round of the postseason for the second year in a row.

They quickly got reacclimated to their home turf, driving down to the 5-yard line on their first possession. Springfield put up a goal line stand, but the Redbirds came right back on their next series to score on Jordan Wright’s 1-yard run.

Setting up that touchdown was a 29-yard catch-and-run by Austin VanSickle on a dump pass over the middle from Kolton Edmondson. An inadvertent pick set by one of the officials helped spring VanSickle, whose reception carried to the 3.

Wright’s touchdown was the only score of the first quarter before an overflow crowd at frigid Redbird Stadium. Springfield tied it early in the second on a short scoring run by workhorse Ryan Kohler.

“We were able to establish the run and open up the play-action,” Springfield head coach Sean Guerriero said.

It stayed 7-7 until the end of the half when the Redbirds put together a 83-yard drive in the final 2:17.

Not only was the clock working against the Redbirds, but Springfield dropped three interceptions, as well.

“I thought if we kept it close at half we had a shot,” Guerriero said. “I thought we had one of those interceptions but they called it incomplete.”

Edmondson kept the drive alive with a 12-yard run on third-and-10 from the Springfield 41 with 43 seconds left. Then on first down from the 15, Edmondson found Van Sickle along the left sidelines, his reception carrying to the 1.

From there, Edmondson rolled right and threw back over the middle to 6-foot-3 senior tight end Joey Artrip for the go-ahead score with four seconds left on the clock.

Edmondson and Artrip picked up where they left off in the first half, collaborating on a 24-yard pass play on the Redbirds’ second series of the third quarter.

A face mask penalty was tacked on, putting the ball on the Springfield 9. VanSickle gained seven on a reverse and Edmondson took it in from there, increasing Loudonville’s lead to 21-7.

Aided by four penalties, Springfield pulled within 21-14 with 10:01 left on a 1-yard keeper by Graham Mincher. The Redbirds were flagged for two personal fouls and a pass interference on the drive, which was kept alive when they were drawn offsides on fourth-and-3 from the Springfield 37.

Mistakes continued to plague Loudonville on its next possession. Edmondson ripped off a 31-yard gain, but a fumbled snap gave the ball back to the Tigers at their own 28.

They weren’t able to capitalize and the Redbirds made them pay dearly, by taking the ensuring punt and driving to an insurance score.

Once again, it was Edmondson to Artrip, this time for 11 yards to the Springfield 40 on third-and-four. Edmondson kept it for 12 more yards and then found VanSickle alone in the end zone for the game-sealing 20-yard score.

“Our boys played a heck of game tonight,” Guerriero said. “They showed a lot of heart and I’m proud of them.”

A third down sack by Artrip on the next series, followed by a leaping interception by Tucker Bender, put an exclamation point on the victory.

Loudonville advances to play fourth-seeded Mogadore next week.