Springfield Holds Off Garnet Valley In PIAA District 5A Semi Finals

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

Ted Podberesky | November 16, 2024

Familiar faces matched up tonight for the PIAA district 5A semi finals, Springfield Cougars  (11-1) hosted the Garnet Valley Jaguars (9-3). These two teams saw each other earlier in the year during week 9 of the regular season, with Springfield coming out on top 35-23. Tonight was no different for the Cougars, playing hard nosed football and beating Garnet Valley 21-14 for a trip to the district championship. 

Both teams’ defenses stood strong in the 1st quarter, not allowing points from either side. 

It wasn’t until the second quarter where things started to heat up on offense. Springfield continued to feed the two headed monster in running backs, Brad Barber and Nate Romano. 

The Cougars offense was able to convert on not just one, but two 4th down conversions inside Jaguars territory. Eventually, Nate Romano was given the ball back and scored the first points of the game on an 8 yard run. 

After receiving the ball back, Garnet Valley created a methodical drive down field. Quarterback, Luke O’Donoghue, completed multiple passes while picking up chunks of yards with his legs. O’Donoghue was able to convert on two separate fourth downs, scrambling for one and throwing the other. 

Inside Springfield territory, the Jaguars dialed up another pass play right before halftime. Luke O’Donoghue fired a bullet over the middle to his man, Caden Koehler, on a 7 yard touchdown. 

Springfield received the ball back and took a knee, sending the game into halftime all tied up at 7 a piece. 

The Cougars started with the ball to start the second half and wasted absolutely no time. Springfields offense continued to show their identity on the ground behind their strong offensive line. Just a few plays later and in the Jaguars red zone, they were faced with another big fourth down. 

Wide Receiver, Brian Delaney, took it upon himself to get his team in the endzone. Delaney, from eleven yards out, shook his man on the top of his route and was gifted a beauty by Jackson Kennedy in the back of the endzone for six. 

Both teams battled the rest of the third quarter, with both defenses making multiple stops on third and fourth down. 

Garnet Valley was finally given their chance to score after a long clock winding drive that led into the fourth quarter. The Jaguars offense was able to convert on fourth and one after Caden Koehler made a finger tip saving grab in the middle of the field. 

Running back, Gavin Rossello, was able to squeeze his way in for Garnet Valley on a 3 yard touchdown run. 

It wasn’t long before Springfield answered however, Brian Delaney received the ball on the kickoff for the Cougars and shot out of a cannon down the sideline on a 85 yard touchdown. 

After a previous three and out, Garnet Valley knew they needed one last stop and score with little time remaining. The Jaguars defense were able to shut down Springfield on fourth and five and get the ball back for one final drive. 

Garnet Valley converted on a huge fourth down inside their own redzone, which then led to Luke O’Donoghue finding Caden Koehler 30 yards downfield on the next play. 

A promising drive came to an end unfortunately, with a minute remaining Springfield was able to pop the ball loose and fall on top of it inside their own two yard line. 

Brad Barber cleaned it up for the Cougars, picking up one last first down on the ground. 

Quarterback, Jackson Kennedy, took one final knee for the Springfield Cougars to secure their victory in the PIAA district 1 5A semi finals, 21-14 over the Garnet Valley Jaguars. 

Springfield advances next week to the district championship, the first time since 2017 led by Head Coach, Chris Britton. 

Running back, Brad Barber, had a few words to say about his team after the game, “ All of this started last December, getting bounced out of the playoffs last year it burns something up inside of you. These guys have worked their tail off all off season and season, whether that’s in the weight room, film room, wherever. Just knowing our identity and knowing we can execute every week pushes us down the stretch of every game. 

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews