By Tom Williams

williams@vndy.com

NEW MIDDLETOWN

Two weeks after there was a six-way tie for first place in the Inter Tri-County League Tier One, the Springfield High School football team stands alone at the top.

Tailback Ryan Kohler’s three touchdowns included scoring runs of 82 and 80 yards as the Tigers pummeled Crestview, 42-21, in a battle of first-place teams.

“I think a lot of people weren’t expecting us to win tonight and especially in the fashion that we did,” said Tigers quarterback Graham Mincher, who passed for two scores and ran for two others. One covered 62 yards.

It was Springfield’s first win over Crestview since 1998.

“We [hadn’t] beaten Crestview in 15 years,” said Kohler who finished with 218 yards. “It’s a great feeling.”

Mincher agreed.

“The last eight years, they’ve pretty much handled us every year,” Mincher said.

After the Rebels scored on their first possession, the Tigers responded with four touchdowns for a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter.

Linebacker Randy Groves made a key play when the score was tied at 7 in the second quarter. Groves intercepted Rebels quarterback Jesse Best and returned the pick 23 yards to midfield. Four plays later, Mincher scored on a 15-yard run.

Groves said the Tigers keyed on stopping Best, the Rebels’ running quarterback. He was limited to 74 yards on 20 carries.

“He’s such a great player and we knew if we could contain him, our night would be very successful,” Groves said.

He described the interception as “surreal. The ball just came to me and I took it and ran as far as I could get. It was unbelievable.”

After the Rebels went three-and-out, the Tigers produced a 57-yard scoring drive capped by Kohler catching a screen pass for a 9-yard touchdown and 14-point halftime lead.

“Our locker room was going crazy,” Kohler said.

Mincher said: “We’re pumped, we were in there chanting.”

They had more to celebrate as Kohler scored on an 80-yard run on the second play of the second half.

The Rebels weren’t finished, scoring the next two touchdowns to slice Springfield’s lead to 28-21. Zach Hicks scored all three of the Rebels’ touchdowns.

But one play after his third touchdown, Kohler escaped for an 82-yard touchdown and 35-21 lead.

The Rebels gobbled up much of the fourth quarter getting as far as the Springfield 15, but turned the ball over on downs after several key penalties. Rebels wideout Evan Beachler was called for offensive pass interference on a big gain, Tigers lineman Mark Schuler was called for roughing the passer on fourth down and Best was called for an illegal forward pass on a touchdown.

“We responded, but we couldn’t get [sustained] series,” Crestview head coach Paul Cusick said of the second-quarter surge by the Tigers. “More than anything, their offense controlled the clock.”

The Tigers rushed for 344 yards on 35 carries while the Rebels gained 203 yards on 54 tries. Best completed eight of 19 passed for 105 yards. Beachler caught eight for 107 yards.

Wideout Nate Simboli scored the Tigers’ first touchdown on a 9-yard pass from Mincher.

After Week 6, Crestview and Springfield were tied with Lisbon, South Range, United and Columbiana. Only the Tigers (6-2, 4-1) have won twice since.

“We know if we win our conference, we’re going to make [playoffs],” Springfield coach Sean Guerriero said.

A game behind are Lisbon, United, South Range and Crestview (4-4, 3-2) so nothing has been settled.

“Playoffs, that’s our big [goal],” Kohler said. “To do that, we’ve got to win out. We have two very good teams coming up.”

Lisbon (6-2, 3-2) and South Range (5-3, 3-2) await the Tigers.