On August 27th, the Springfield High School Yellow Jackets opened their season in Lebanon, Tennessee. SHS would leave Wilson Central High School with a 37-7 loss and a plethora of questions surrounding the team.
Ten weeks later, Springfield is now region 5-4A champions for the second straight season, the first back-to-back championships since 1991. This year, the Jackets earned the hardware in Charlotte, Tennessee against Creek Wood High School, 14-7. The game acted as an unofficial championship game, with CWHS and SHS ranked first and second in the region, respectively.
As expected by the score, defense was the prominent factor in this game for both teams. Springfield received the opening kickoff and drove the ball 67 yards, eventually resulting in a 14 yard scamper for six from Kevontay White.
No team would score again until the third quarter, thanks to SHS' stinging defense: two interceptions from Gabe Kelly and Ze'rel Boyd put a negative performance in the stat sheet for Redhawks' quarterback Elijah Donaldson. The Junior was also sacked three times on the evening: one coming from LB Kamrin Garrett, the other two via Freshman Lamarion Turner.
Tailback Danny Stansberry kept Creek Wood's hopes alive throughout this game, carrying the bulk of the load offensively for the Redhawks. The Senior was primarily responsible for the team's first offensive drive of the third quarter, one that spanned over nine minutes.
Donaldson would find 6'7" receiver Sam Batey in the end zone later on in the third, tying the game at 7. No other team would score throughout the remainder of the frame, the only other score coming in the fourth from Jackets' QB Kevontez Hudson from one yard out, a lead that Springfield would hold on to for the remaining 4 minutes of game time.
CWHS had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth, producing another solid drive down inside the 20 of SHS, yet Turner's second sack of the night, and a great pass deflection from Cale Jones iced both the game and the region 5-4A championship
Jones spoke on his emotions behind the trophy as a Senior "As a player, it feels amazing to keep that brand alive, always shining, and having people know who you are and how you bring it." Fellow linebacker Mikie Neal later said via Twitter: "Zero offers on this team, we just grind. I love this team!"
Alongside the Jackets' trophy comes a home field advantage throughout the postseason. The first round of the Class 4A TSSAA playoffs will begin in Springfield, Tennessee against the Jackson South Side Hawks (3-7).
-Blaine Kellar is a Broadcasting and Journalism Intern for Social Dweebs, who has covered Springfield High School Athletics since 2018.
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