Springfield wins D-III football championship

Springfield's storybook season with a 52-28 victory over Windsor (8-3) to finish with an 11-0 record and claiming their first state championship since 1948.

Springfield wins D-III football championship

By CHARLIE LENTZ, Sports Writer
Twin State Media Network's Eagle Times

Monday, December 08, 2008 9:09 PM

RUTLAND -- Three years ago it couldn't get much lower for Grant White, Keith Cook, and Stephen Miller. They suffered through a lonely freshmen football season without a solitary win.

"People were talking about shutting down the program. It looked pretty dismal," White said. "We just kept working hard."

On Saturday Springfield's senior trio walked onto Saint Peter's Field determined to finish the job -- focused on capping their final season with a Vermont Division III state championship -- looking for a win over Windsor, an undefeated season, and finally some respect.

Only White and Cook could walk off with the championship plaque, Miller ripped up his right knee early in the first quarter and watched most of the game from crutches on the sideline. But they all capped Springfield's storybook season with a 52-28 victory Windsor (8-3) to finish with an 11-0 record and claiming their first state championship since 1948.

"Now that it's done this is the best feeling I've ever felt in my life," Cook said. "State championship, that's amazing. This trophy is going to be with me forever. This is history."

Miller injured his right knee on his second carry in the first quarter. Junior Matt Mitchell replaced Miller and the Cosmos didn't miss a beat without their leading rusher. Mitchell rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Mitchell also intercepted a pair of passes.

"I had to step up. I gave everything I had for Stevie, everything I had for my team," said Mitchell after his first start this season. "We knew we had to give everything. We kept up our intensity and kept going. I had to step up and prove it to Stevie and prove it to my team."

White was his usual efficient self at quarterback, completing 9-of-12 for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

"Matt Mitchell was the player of the game today," White said. "When Stephen Miller went down like that, Matty Mitchell came in and he doesn't miss a beat. He works in practice just in case his number's called. Everyone stepped up that needed to step up. We didn't want to lose this game."

Mitchell raced for a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter and White rushed for an 8-yard score as Springfield took a 16-0 lead with 3:23 left in the first quarter.

"Mitchell ran his heart out, he had Stevie in his mind," said Cook, who blocked for Mitchell from his spot at center. "We're 11 strong. We we're going to finish strong."

Windsor had no answer for Springfield's spread offense. The Cosmos have avereaged 43 points per game this season and showed why when Windsor got within 10 points late in the first quarter.

Windsor pulled to within 16-6 on Cody TanCreti's 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 3:09 left in the first quarter. White answered, connecting with junior receiver Brandon Boyle (six catches for 57 yards) for a five-yard scoring pass to push Springfield's lead to 22-6 with 6:30 left in the second quarter.

Mitchell raced 47 yards for a score with 3:08 left before halftime and White found Shawn Keefe on a five-yard touchdown toss with :18 left before the half to push Springfield's lead to 38-6 at the intermission.

Windsor got second-half touchdowns from TanCreti on a one-yard run, a 13-yard scoring reception from Jason Marchand, and a 65-yard touchdown run by James Nolan.

"Sometimes you've just got to tip your hat to a better team," Windsor coach Jim Taft said. "We fought like hell to get here. Sometimes it's just time to say they're a better team. Congratulations to Springfield."

White added a 20-yard touchdown in the second half and Boyle returned an interception 30 yards for a score for Springfield.

Miller, White, and Cook completed a long journey Saturday at Saint Peter's Field. Only White and Cook were able to walk off the field in full health -- only three short years after finishing the season without a win.

Miller's got a bum knee now. But when the final gun sounded, he had 11 victories and one state championship to ease the pain.

"It was just joy," Miller said. "I'm very proud of everything they did."

Coach Mike Hatt always knew Miller's freshman season was just the start of a journey -- Springfield made the final stop on Saturday.

"We're going to be 11-0 forever," Hatt said. "What a nice feeling."

Springfield 52, Windsor 28

Windsor 6 0 6 16 -- 28

Springfield 16 22 8 6 -- 52

First Quarter

Springfield--Matt Mitchell 15 run (Brandon Boyle pass from Grant White) 6:54

Springfield--White 8 run (Boyle pass from White) 3:23

Windsor--Cody TanCreti 86 kickoff return (pass failed) 3:09

Second Quarter

Springfield--Boyle 5 pass from White (run failed) 6:30

Springfield--Mitchell 47 run (Shawn Keefe pass from White) 3:08

Springfield--Keefe 5 pass from White (White run) :18

Third Quarter

Windsor--TanCreti 1 run (pass failed) 6:06

Springfield--White 20 run (White run) 3:37

Fourth Quarter

Windsor--Jason Marchand 13 pass from Gavin Callahan (TanCreti pass from Callahan) 10:52

Springfield--Boyle 30 interception return (run failed):23

Windsor--James Nolan 65 run (Willy Waite run) :06

Windsor Springfield

First downs 12 21

Total Yards 293 375

Rushes-yards 33-195 43-272

Sacked-yds.lost 1-8 3-29

Passing 98 103

Comp-Att-Int 9-17-3 9-12-1

Punts-avg 2-38.0 2-32.0

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 4-40 5-55



INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Windsor: Callahan 9-22; Cody TanCreti 13-44, TD; James Nolan 11-129, TD; Austin Soule 1-0. Springfield: White 18-65, 2 TDs; Stephen Miller 2-14; Boyle 3-21; Matt Mitchell 22-186, 2 TDs.

PASSING-- Windsor: 9-17-3 for 98 yards 1 TD: Springfield: White 9-12-1 for 103 yards, 2 TDs.

RECEIVING--Windsor: TanCreti 2-17; Nolan 1-15; Weidman 1-40, Jason Marchand 1-13, TD; Austin Soule 3-13. Springfield: Boyle, 6-57, TD; Billy Wheeler 2-36; Bennett Chevalier 1-10.

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