Football: Springfield calls for improvement after shutting down Radnor

RADNOR >> It’s the sort of game that may frustrate Chris Britton and the Springfield coaching staff when they review the film this weekend.

Yes, the Cougars won Friday night at Radnor, 24-6, to stay undefeated for the season. Sure, there was plenty to be happy about.

The defense, led by linemen Derek Strain, Kevin Deal, Justin Shields and Dan Pennestri, was nasty. So, too, was linebacker Dwayne Snipes. The front seven swooned in the backfield to disrupt the Raiders. Joe Kennedy accounted for two Springfield touchdowns, an 89-yard return on the opening kick of the game and a 30-yard reception in the second quarter. Make no mistake, there were many positives.

“It was a big win,” Strain said. “I thought we had a rough first half, but we picked it up and started to come together as a team in the second half.”

Springfield’s defense limited Radnor to 142 yards of total offense. Radnor didn’t score until the waning seconds of regulation, when sophomore quarterback Sean Mullarkey connected with wide receiver Jack Henry over the middle of the field for a 29-yard touchdown. It spoiled the Cougars’ bid for a shutout, but big whoop.

“I think we were reading the plays,” said Strain, who had at least two sacks and also forced a fumble. “The second half, we were doing a lot better. We started to see what they like to do. They started to run up the middle a lot, so we got used to do that and we were able to get to them quickly.”

So, chalk one up for the Springfield defense, which had allowed 170 yards per game entering the night, good for fifth-best in Delco. Also, the 7.7 points scored against was second in the county.

Kennedy and Greg Tamaccio recorded interceptions. Overall, the defense did its job again Friday night.

But Springfield still has work to do on the other side of the ball. The Cougars (4-0, 3-0) totaled 152 yards. Johnny Fanelli was sharp (11 of 19, 110 yards), but the ground attack was indisposed. Radnor’s defensive front matched Springfield’s in that regard, as the Raiders held the Cougars to 42 yards on 20 carries. Springfield’s leading rusher Ja’Den McKenzie gained just 18 yards on six carries. Fanelli had a game-high 22 yards rushing for Springfield.

The Cougars know they won’t get away with a similar offensive performance against the likes of Ridley and Garnet Valley, who lurk on the horizon.

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