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Three is a Charm, Springfield in Finale

SIDNEY, ohio – It was a historical night for the Springfield football program. The Wildcats beat Moeller 22-21 to advance to the Division I state championship for the first time ever. Springfield had lost the past two seasons in the state semifinals to GCL South Conference rivals of the Crusaders, Elder and St. Xavier.

The nail-biting win for the Wildcats saw the lead change hands four times in the second half. Neither team had an advatage of moe than five points after the initial touchdown in the contest.

Springfield got the scoring started first when Te’Sean Smoot found Daylen Bradley for a 29-yard score through the air to go up 7-0. Smoot, the OPSWA Division I Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year was sensational. The senior finished the night Smoot went 19/24 for 285 yarrds passing, ran for 114 yards with a touchdown on the ground and one through the air. He would find out after the game that he was a finalist for Ohio Mr. Football. A much deserved honor.

Postgame Interview: Te’Sean Smoot, Springfield

Moeller responded in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Jordan Marshall to tie the game. However, the lead didn’t last, as Cole Yost kicked a 22-yard field goal to give the Wildcats the lead going into halftime.

Marshall found the end zone again after intermission, putting the Crusaders back on top temporarily. Smoot responded in the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown of his own. He has amassed 3,617 yards of total offense (2,657 pass, 960 rush) and acounted for 42 touchdowns (20 pass, 22 rush) this season.

The back-and-forth continued when Marshall exploded through the line from 63 yards out to give Moeller the 21-16 lead. The sophomore, who got an offer from Cincinnati earlier in the week finished the night with career highs of 154 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries.

The Wildcats took the final lead with 3:43 left when Anthony Brown hit paydirt from seven yards out on his only carry of the evening. The junior also caught five balls for 99 yards.

Postgame Interview: Delian Bradley

Springfield moves on to face Lakewood St. Edward at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, Dec. 3, from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

POSTGAME ADDRESS: Springfield Wildcats

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Springfield 7-3-0-12-22
Moeller 0-7-7-7-21

SCORING PLAYS
S: Daylen Bradley 29 pass from Te’Sean Smoot (Cole Yost kick)
M: Jordan Marshall 1 run (William Steele kick)
S: Yost 23 field goal
M: Marshall 2 run (Steele kick)
S: Smoot 3 run (Yost kick failed)
M: Marshall 63 run (Steele kick)
S: Anthony Brown 7 run (Smoot run failed)

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