The Wildcats (12-2) won their first regional championship , advancing to the D-I state semifinals where they lost to Elder 31-24,
The loss fueled the Wildcats during the offseason, said Springfield coach Maurice Douglass, entering his seventh season.
“You’ve got to remember what you lost by,” he said. “You lost the opportunity to go to the state final by seven points. If we score a touchdown (against Elder), we’re going for two. That’s been the thing that’s driven them throughout the offseason.”
Despite their success, the returning Wildcats know they’ve got plenty to prove this season. They’re seeking their third straight Greater Western Ohio Conference championship.
“We’ve got a lot to prove,” said senior linebacker/running back Bryce Walker. “We know what it takes to get there, so we’ve got to work harder than we did last year.”
The Wildcats graduated a huge senior class that included four All-Ohio selections -- wide receiver Larry Stephens, running back Jeff Tolliver, linebacker Xzerious Stinnett and defensive lineman Te’Vion Gilbreth.
“We lost a lot of seniors, so people think we’re not going to be as good as last year, but we just reloaded,” Walker said.
The Wildcats must focus on creating their own identity, Douglass said.
“Those guys are gone and they’re not coming back,” he said. “It’s their opportunity to see their own names in the paper.”
At one point this summer, the Wildcats were unsure if they’d have a chance to defend their GWOC title due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re just happy to be playing Week 1, Douglass said.
“We’re thankful that God has made a way for us to be able to play the game the kids love,” he said. “It gives them an opportunity to release some frustration on some things and play a game that they love. I’m excited for them.”
The Wildcats weren’t able to schedule a scrimmage due to the late approval of contact sports in Ohio, meaning this year’s Week 1 will be a bit different than previous seasons.
“You just want to play,” Douglass said. “We’ll probably have more missed tackles this week, but we always do. The first week is the week you have your most mistakes and the following week is your greatest week of improvement. We’re just excited to be able to play with or without the scrimmages. We just want to get out there.”
The Wildcats return junior quarterback Te’Sean Smoot, who threw for 2,470 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Wildcats last season.
“We expect big things from him,” Douglass said. “He’s been in the system since he was a baby. It’s good to see his development and how he progressed throughout the summer and the offseason. Now that the season is upon us, we’re excited to see what he can do out there.”
Walker will see time at running back along with Christian McMillin and Logan Richardson.
The Wildcats receiving corps got a huge addition when Ben VanNoord moved to the district from Northwestern. The senior ran for 1,061 yards and 13 TDs and caught 20 passes for 410 yards and seven TDs for the Warriors last fall.
Defensively, the Wildcats will be led by junior defensive back Delian Bradley, an All-Ohio selection last fall.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Springfield will play a six-game regular season schedule. Every team will advance to the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin Oct. 9 and 10.
“The goal is to go 15 weeks and now the goal is to go 11 or how ever many it takes,” Douglass said. “We just want to keep playing until this thing is over and we’ve got a title in Springfield.”
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