Springfield Hangs On To Beat Conestoga, 20-10

Tom Kline was looking for that test. The High School coach had seen his team blast through their first four opponents—but this one would be different. Conestoga came in Friday night with a high-powered offense and a 3-1 record. Kline wanted to know what his team could when pushed a little—when faced with a little adversity.

It’s safe to say Kline got his answer. His team responded with a 20-10 Central League victory and can thank juniors Warren Allen and Aaron Coyne for making big interceptions in critical spots for the win.

“This was a huge confidence boost for our kids,” Kline said. “That’s a good Conestoga team with a dangerous offense and we took it to them. Our kids dealt with a bad second half to come out on top. They never doubted.”

Springfield remained undefeated at 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Central League, while the loss dropped Conestoga to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Central League.

“We had to shut down their passing game, it’s something we worked on all week,” said Allen, whose third-quarter interception shut down a Pioneers’ drive. “I think we still have doubters out there, but everyone did their job and it showed. This game proved something.”

Coyne agreed. He said the pressure from the defensive front of Joe Lockley, Vince Marra, Mike McGarvey, John Ciurlino and Nick Coyne, Aaron’s older brother, made the difference.

“They put on a good rush, which made all of our jobs a lot easier,” said Aaron, whose fourth-quarter pick sealed the victory. “It’s a pride thing. Everyone does their job.”

It was a game of halves. Springfield dominated the first half and went into intermission leading, 20-3, while Conestoga controlled much of the second half, frustrating Springfield’s offense with three first downs in the last two quarters.

The disparity in the way the teams played in each half was immense. Consider Springfield’s first half: The Cougars amassed 205 yards of total offense. The Pioneers had one first down before intermission—Springfield had eight. Conestoga benefitted when a punt skidded off the wet turf and bounced off the foot of a Springfield player to create its first score.

Otherwise, nothing.

Then the second half: Conestoga coach John Vogan deservedly let his team have it at halftime—and the Pioneers responded. They instantly achieved as many first downs on their first play of the third quarter as they totaled in the first half. Conestoga quarterback Joe Viviano threw a much sharper ball, and the Pioneers drove inside the Springfield 30 on their first three series of the second half.

Meanwhile, Springfield couldn’t do anything. The Cougars had zero yards
of total offense in the second midway through the fourth quarter and their only first down—to that point—came on a penalty.

What it came down to was turnovers. Two crucial second-half interceptions by Springfield helped preserve the Cougars’ lead and kept them undefeated.

“You can’t beat a good team like Springfield without playing two goods halves—we played one,” Vogan said.

The Cougars move to 5-0 for the first time since the early-1990s, though more importantly, overcame their subpar second half to find a way to win. It’s what Cougars’ coach Tom Kline wanted to find out. He got his answer.