Springfield falters in fourth against Dublin Coffman

The No. 2 team in the state uses its massive roster to pave the way for a 17-point final quarter.

Springfield quarterback George Walker (5) loses the football as he is tackled by Dublin Coffman’s Brett Buehler (49) during a first-round Division I playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 7. Walker threw for 165 yards. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

ENLARGE PHOTO

By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer Updated 1:56 PM Sunday, November 8, 2009

DUBLIN — The Springfield High School football team has made near-miraculous strides since it officially became a program in 2008.

But that didn’t ease the pain of a 31-12 loss to Dublin Coffman in a Division I, Region 3 playoff quarterfinal contest at Coffman Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The Wildcats, the No. 8 seed, gave the Rocks all they could handle for the better part of three quarters.

Unfortunately, a 17-point fourth quarter sends Coffman to the next round.

Springfield (6-5) led 6-0 early in the first quarter when B.J. Bush picked up a Dublin fumble and returned it 15 yards to the end zone. But two plays later, Colton Caldwell hit Conner Viers on a screen pass and he sprinted 62 yards for a 7-6 Coffman lead.

Springfield missed two chances to score in the first half that could have changed the momentum in the game. A 9-yard touchdown pass was called back because of an illegal player downfield, and a potential touchdown pass was dropped on the next drive.

“You can’t beat a team like Coffman and drop balls and have stupid penalties,” Springfield head coach Rick Robertson said. “That’s the bottom line.”

Springfield, which dressed 40 players to around 100 for Coffman, started to wear down by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. Coffman plays that were going for no yardage in the first half suddenly were picking up big chunks.

Dublin’s Shaun Jones turned a third-and-long play into a 33-yard gain, and then Caldwell found E.J. Williams for a 57-yard strike for a 14-6 lead with 6:26 left in the third quarter.

The score was stretched to 24-6, including a 45-yard field goal from Kyle Clinton, before Springfield could catch its breath.

“We needed to have some breaks go our way, and in the second half they really didn’t,” Robertson said.

Coffman is 11-0, the No. 2 team in the state and the region’s top seed. The Rocks will play Westerville South at a neutral site next week.

Although it was a loss, it was still a good showing for the Wildcats after losing to Wayne in the regular-season finale.

“We’re resilient. We followed every loss with a good effort, and that’s tough to do with high school kids sometimes. Our kids did that,” Robertson said.

George Walker passed for 165 yards, including a pretty 23-yard TD to Lamar Davenport at the end of the game, and rushed for 126. Titus Montgomery had 58 yards rushing on four attempts before leaving with an injury.

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