DePriest stars in Springfield football's OT win

Springfield beats Hamilton 35-28 in opener

$Springfield High School's Trey DePriest (33) is pursued by Hamilton's James Brewster \uFEFFduring a game at Evans Stadium in Springfield on Saturday, Aug. 29. DePriest scored four touchdowns, including the game winner as Springfield won its opener 35-28 in overtime. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic$

Barbara J. Perenic Springfield High School's Trey DePriest (33) is pursued by Hamilton's James Brewster \uFEFFduring a game at Evans Stadium in Springfield on Saturday, Aug. 29. DePriest scored four touchdowns, including the game winner as Springfield won its opener 35-28 in overtime. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer Updated 1:29 AM Sunday, August 30, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — It was a team victory and yet a one-man show.

Coming soon to a football field near you: The Talented Mr. DePriest. He runs, he catches, he tackles, he punts, he kicks off, he boots extra points — he wins games.

The credit for Springfield High School’s 35-28 come-from-behind overtime victory Saturday, Aug. 29, at Evans Stadium goes to numerous people.

No player, however, deserves more credit than versatile Springfield junior Trey DePriest. His four touchdowns, all after halftime and one in overtime, helped carry the Wildcats to a victory in their weather-delayed season opener.

“I called him Jim Thorpe the other day,” Springfield coach Rick Robertson said. “He looked at me like, ‘Huh?’ ... I called him a Renaissance Man. He does it all. He’s the real deal.”

“He’s always been Superman,” junior linebacker Hayden Davis said.

DePriest may have put the team on his back, but his teammates were there for him, too. After he gave the Wildcats the lead in overtime with a 2-yard run, an obviously exhausted DePriest accepted two helping hands from sophomore Stewart Vleck to get to his feet.

DePriest then went right back out on defense and helped the Wildcats shut Big Blue down and clinch the win in OT.

“Everybody came together as one,” DePriest said. “There’s no greater feeling.”

Springfield trailed 14-0 when DePriest scored on a 14-yard run in the third quarter. The Wildcats trailed 21-7 when he caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from George Walker with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. DePriest’s 3-yard run and a two-point conversion pass from Walker to Erick Collins tied the game with 4:31 left.

Then it was Davis’ turn to shine. His 40-yard interception return for a score at the 3:35 mark stunned the Big Blue, who hammered Springfield 30-6 in the new high school’s first game a year ago.

“Everyone knows about DePriest, but (Davis is) truly the center of the defense,” Robertson said. “He’s a downhill player who actually does cover very well — and that’s not his job.”

The play by Davis exemplified the effort of the defense. The Wildcats had three sacks and recovered two fumbles. Hamilton gained 55 rushing yards on 33 carries.

Big Blue did get through Springfield’s defense to tie the game with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but that momentum didn’t help Hamilton in OT.

“Everyone probably assumed that as the game wore on in the fourth, they would have the edge because of the physical pounding,” Robertson said. “That wasn’t true.”

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