Springfield Grinds It Out on Ground in Win Over Cardinal O’Hara

Tagged under: District 1, District 12, Gameday Hub, News

Willie McGonigle | August 27, 2022

SPRINGFIELD: In recent years the Springfield Cougars have been known to be a team that has been a spread team. On Friday night the Cougars changed their identity and went with more ground and pound approach the result: amassing 259 yards rushing on their way to a convincing 27-0 road victory over crosstown rivals Cardinal O’Hara Lions.

The Lions in their first game under new head coach Mike Ewing came swinging, on the games first play Freshman QB John Welde connected with a streaking Xavier Tran for what would have been a 66-yard touchdown that was wiped out by a holding call. Three plays later Mike O’Donnell intercepted Welde. The Cougars wouldn’t capitalize on the turnover and both teams traded punts for the rest of the opening quarter.

The Cougars would have capitalized on an errant snap on a Punt by the Lions that gave them the ball at the O’Hara 9. Two players later Tyler Gougler punched in from 7-yards out giving the Cougars the 7-0 lead.

The Cougars added on to their lead with 2:48 left till halftime when FB Nate Romano went right up the gut of the Lions defense practically untouched for 63-yard touchdown. Romano finished the game with 95 yards on 8 carries.

Ethan Marshall extended the Cougars lead to 21-0 in the third quarter bulldozing his way in from a yard out.

In fourth quarter Gougler would find the end-zone for the second time this season this time coming from 6-yards.

Defensively the Cougars only allowed the Lions to gain a total of 77 yards including 12 on the ground. Marshall led the defense with 3 solo tackles on his way to a 9-tackle performance. Mike Turner also had an interception.

Both the Cougars and Lions have a short week coming up with both teams playing on Thursday. The Cougars will have their home and Central League opener against the Radnor Raptors while the Lions will hit the road and take on the Chichester Eagles. Both games are scheduled for 7 pm.

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