Cosmos Complete Undefeated Season With State Title

The Springfield Cosmos completed an undefeated season by thrashing Windsor, 52 - 28 and bringing the Division II state championship home to Springfield for the first time since 1948.

Cosmos Complete Undefeated Season With State Title

by Joe Milliken, Sports Editor
Twin State Valley Media Network's The Message for the Week

Saturday, January 10, 2009 9:39 AM

Folks, this one was decided early at St. Peters Field at Mount St. Joseph High School on Saturday afternoon, as the Springfield Cosmos completed an undefeated season by thrashing Windsor, 52–28 and bringing the Division II state championship home to Springfield for the first time since 1948.

In front of a packed house (on both sides of the field, for each team) and in a little rain early on, the Cosmos did what they have done all season, score early and often – and play tough defense. And as Windsor found out quickly, that's a tough combination to defeat.

After winning the opening coin toss Springfield had a rare, three–play–and–punt drive, however the Cosmos defense got the ball right back on a Matt Mitchell interception on Windsor's first play from scrimmage.

From there the Springfield offense would settle in and began marching up and down the field and putting points on the board.

However this time, not before having to overcome the loss of senior running back Stephen Miller, who on his second carry of the drive was lost for the game with a knee injury.

A tough break for a kid who helped balance this powerful offense with his running ability all season.

But the Cosmos regrouped and after a Brandon Boyle reception and a couple of Grant White keepers, Matt Mitchell scored on a 15–yard run up the middle after replacing the injured Miller, for a 6–0 lead. A 2–point conversion from White to Boyle made it 8–0.

Windsor would go three–and–out on their next possession giving the ball back to the Cosmos, who proceeded to drive down the field again on a Mitchell run up the gut, a White keeper, a Billy Wheeler reception (a catch that knocked him out of the game after taking a big hit ) and another run from White (8 yards) that took him into the end zone for a 14–point lead.

Another 2–point conversion from White to Boyle made it 16–0 with just under 4 minutes left in the first quarter.

Things looked to be getting out of hand for Windosr early, until Yellow Jacket senior Cody TanCreti took the next kick off back for an 86–yard touchdown run and all of a sudden it was 16–6 after a missed 2–point conversion.

The Windsor defense then proceeded to stop the Cosmos offense again and forced a punt, and it looked like the Yellow Jackets were poised to make a run at the the Cosmos.

However the punt was fumbled and recovered by Springfield's Mitchell, giving the Cosmos ball deep in Windsor territory, but Yellow Jacket cornerback Gavin Callahan turned right around and picked off a White pass to get the ball back for Windsor.

But Windsor couldn't take advantage, giving the ball right back to Springfield after Mitchell got his second interception of the quarter.

This time Springfield would take advantage of the turn over, driving down the field and scoring on a 5–yard touchdown pass from White to Boyle to make it 22–6 halfway through the second quarter.

“Matt Mitchell was the player of the game today,” Cosmos quarterback Grant White said after the game. “When Stephen Miller went down Matty came in and didn't miss a beat. He was everywhere.”

The Cosmos would add two more touchdowns before the half on a 47–yard scamper from Mitchell and a 5–yard TD catch from White to Shawn Keefe to make it 38–6 at the break.

To Windsor's credit they did not concede anything in this title game, scoring three touchdowns in the second half on a TanCreti 1–yard run, a 13–yard TD catch to Jason Marchand and a 65–yarder from James Nolan in the waning moments of the game, but the Cosmos countered with touchdowns from White (20–yard run) and Boyle (30–yard interception return) to close out the title victory and undefeated season.

“I had to step up today,” Matt Mitchell said after the game. “I gave everything I had for Stevie (Stephen Miller) and for my team.”

For the game, it was business as usual for Grant White in his final high school football contest, completing 9–12 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for two more scores.

Matt Mitchell rushed 22 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns, while also notching two interceptions on defense and even recovered a fumble.

tsv.live.mediaspanonline.com/MSG/story/081112-jem-COSMOS

“Mitchell ran his heart out today. We’re 11 strong and we’re going to finish 11 strong,” co–captain Keith Cook said during the post–game celebration.

“Now that the job is done this is the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my life. State championship, that’s amazing! This trophy is going to be with me forever. This is history.”

Brandon Boyle also caught six passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. For Windsor, running back James Nolan rushed 11 times for 129 yards and a touchdown.

“We’re going to be 11–0 forever,” a misty–eyed Cosmos coach Mike Hatt concluded. “What a nice feeling.”

tsv.live.mediaspanonline.com/MSG/story/081112-jem-COSMOS