Cosmos at .500 with 15-6 victory

When Springfield and Poultney clashed in a Division III football contest on a breezy last Saturday of summer, both offenses took the day off. No doubt about it the team with the grittiest and more determined defense would carry the day.
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Published September 20, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Cosmos at .500 with 15-6 victory By CHUCK CLARINO CORRESPONDENT POULTNEY – When Springfield and Poultney clashed in a Division III football contest on a breezy last Saturday of summer, both offenses took the day off. No doubt about it the team with the grittiest and more determined defense would carry the day. And that turned out to be the Cosmos, who came up with some big defensive plays in the fourth period, tacked on a late touchdown and escaped Dean W. Houghton Field with a 15-6 victory over the host Blue Devils. Just into the fourth quarter with the Cosmos clinging to a 7-6 lead, the Poultney defense stiffened and forced the ball over on downs about midfield. But the Poultney offense could do nothing with it and three plays later the Blue Devils decided to go for it on fourth down. But the fourth-down pass by Justin Rogers was intercepted by John Hildreth and the senior safety embarked on a splendid run down the sidelines. Hildreth was tripped up at the Poultney 25-yardline, giving the Cosmos excellent field position. No matter, the Cosmo offense could do nothing and turned the ball over on downs back to the Blue Devils with 8:41 to go. Poultney moved the ball into Springfield territory but again the drive stalled and Poultney decided to punt to pen Springfield deep in their own territory. But this was a day when things didn’t seem to work out right for either team. This time the snap sailed over the punter’s head and bounced toward the goal line. Josh Hoy covered the ball and Springfield looked to be sitting pretty at the Poultney 13. Guess again. A costly illegal block erased an apparent touchdown and pushed the Cosmos back to the 25. Then three unsuccessful plays forced the ball over on downs again to the Blue Devils. It was beginning to look as if neither team wanted this game. Here was Poultney’s chance to capitalize. The Blue Devils had some momentum and began to move the ball. They were aided by two Springfield penalties but once near the midfield stripe the offense broke down. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Poultney had to pass and three incomplete passes and a blown-up running play later, Poultney again handed the ball back to Springfield on downs. This time the Cosmos found a bit of success. A 20-yard pass from Kyle Monier to Ben Tubbs got the drive rolling. Two tough runs by Chris Ficklin and another blast by Hoy set up Springfield with a first down at the Poultney 13. Tubbs made sure the Cosmos were not denied this time. He swept the right end and danced into end zone, ending a scoring drought that extended from the first period. Tubbs tacked on the important two-point conversion and with 1:13 left, Springfield had just about stowed away the victory. To make certain, Ficklin, who played a fine two-way game, picked off Zac Kasuba’s Hail Mary pass and Cosmo coach Richie Saypack breathed a sigh of relief. “It was just keeping our composure and not freaking out – our offense was not in sync so we had to rely on the defense,” said Saypack, who explained that he and his brand-new coaching staff had put in the a spread offense this week and it wasn’t quite organized yet. “The important thing was that we won the second half,” Saypack said. “In all four of our games we’ve won the second half.” Springfield looked sharp on its first offensive series. The Cosmos marched 85 yards in 13 plays, relying mostly on the run. But a 39-yard pass play from Monier to Ficklin got the Cosmos to the 2 and then a shuttle pass from Monier to Hoy found paydirt. Hildreth’s PAT gave Springfield the 7-0 lead with 2:36 left in the first. But Poultney answered right back on the next possession. The Blue Devils went 67 yards on 12 plays capped by a 1-yard sneak by Rogers, but the point was blocked and that factored big in this contest leaving it 7-6 Springfield. From that point on it was all defense or a litany of offensive mistakes, miscues and bumbles. The offensive ineptitude is borne out in the numbers. Springfield beat Poultney 271-141 in yards from scrimmage. The Cosmos were able to put up 197 yards on the ground, led by Tubbs’ 79 yards on 16 carries, with Ficklin 67 yards on 16 carries. Meanwhile Poultney mustered only 110 yards on the ground, led by Trent Rogers, with 29 yards and Kasuba with 28. Neither team did well in the air, although Springfield held a 79-31 advantage. Though the loss was disappointing to the Blue Devils, coach Dave Capman found some blue sky. “They are disappointed right now but we were pleased how we played,” Capman said. “This is the first time we’ve put four quarters together. We haven’t done that this year. But things happen.” Springfield evened its record at 2-2 (2-1 in the league) and will play at Windsor Saturday, while the Blue Devils fall to 1-3 and must play an interdivisional rivalry game at Fair Haven Friday.