Football: Springfield stops Sapnas to stay unbeaten

NEWTOWN SQUARE — The Central League’s top team has earned the respect of Delaware County’s top running back. Springfield clinched at least a share of the league crown with a definitive 28-7 victory over Marple Newtown, during which coach Chris Britton’s defense shut down dynamic back Adrian Sapnas. Sapnas, the Tigers’ senior running back and the county’s top rusher, had been averaging 199 ground yards per game. Against Springfield, he totaled a season-low 37 yards on 26 carries — all but three of which went for four or fewer yards.

“There just wasn’t that much there against them,’ Sapnas said. “They’ve got good linebackers. Their D-ends are good. Their front seven are very good. They’re one of the best, if not the best defenses I’ve seen — them or Ridley.’

Springfield (9-0, 8-0) locked up at least a piece of its first Central League title since 1994 behind a stout defensive effort that stymied Marple Newtown (4-5, 4-4) and limited the Tigers to 3.1 yards per offensive snap. Senior nose tackle Brian Layden had 2½ sacks, upping his season total to 18. Junior defensive end Dan Archibong also took down Marple Newtown quarterback Marcus Weathers for 2½ sacks. And the Cougars forced two turnovers.

“He ran hard and kept going after he got hit,’ Layden said. “We plugged the middle and sealed off the outside. We did our studying and we were prepared. He’s a great player.’

In a first half in which Marple Newtown outgained Springfield, it was a special-teams play that gave the Cougars a halftime lead. Tigers kicker George Lambritsios booted a 38-yard field goal attempt into his linemen and linebacker Dylan Power scooped up the bouncing ball and returned it 65 yards for the second-quarter touchdown. It was Power’s first score in more than a year, when he once played both sides of the ball.

Click HERE to read the remainder of the article.