Football: By number and example, Player of Year Krauter led Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Adam Krauter could have been a quarterback. He was just a freshman at the time, but he was looking for a way to get noticed and make varsity. It didn’t take long for him to stand out, but not for his ability to sling a football around. It was because he was bigger and more physical than most kids his age.

“I remember I tackled the standup dummies and one of the coaches pulled me aside and said, ‘˜You’re with varsity,” Krauter said. “I knew I wanted to hit people.’

In his freshman year at Springfield, then first-year head coach Tom Kline turned him into a full-time linebacker. By sophomore year, he was playing virtually every down with the Cougars. Krauter emulated All-Delco linebacker and former teammate Mike Dougherty.

“I looked up to those older guys,’ Krauter said. “They picked on me a little to make me tougher, so I feel like I was just that much better as a player because I had a so-called older brother to push me all the time.’

It worked out for Krauter. In 2014, the senior guided Springfield to its first Central League title in 20 years. Krauter was the heart and soul of a defense regarded as one of the best in program history, and certainly tops in the Central League and Delco.

For his efforts, the middle linebacker has been named 2014 Daily Times Player of the Year.

Krauter headlines a 2014 All-Delco team selected after consultation with county coaches. Krauter is one of four Springfield players named All-Delco. Joining Krauter on All-Delco offense are quarterback Kevin Carter (Haverford School), running backs Adrian Sapnas (Marple Newtown), Phil Poquie (Haverford School) and Dee Barlee (Episcopal Academy), wide receivers Mark Everton (Interboro), Abel Hoff (Marple Newtown) and Nick Costello (Haverford), and linemen Christian DiGalbo (Bonner-Prendergast), Lou Lombardo (Bonner-Prendergast), Brian Denoncour (Haverford School), Alex Andersen (Radnor) and Jonah Jackson (Penncrest)

The All-Delco defensive team consists of linemen Dante Ghee (Academy Park), Brian Layden (Springfield), Mike Cropper (Ridley) and Joey Granahan (Garnet Valley), linebackers Diego Zubieta (Penncrest), Connor Faith (Garnet Valley) and Dario Falcone (Radnor), and defensive backs Clarence Buchanan (Academy Park), Lucas Spence (Springfield), Dox Aitken (Haverford School) and Kevin White (Upper Darby).

Springfield quarterback Brian Allen and Ridley linebacker/specialist Ryan Dougherty were selected for their all-purpose abilities, while Haverford School’s Jack Soslow is the specialist. Granahan and White are two-time All-Delcos.

Click HERE to read the remainder of the article.