History tends to repeat itself.
For Springfield High School, that history is encased with a winning culture, strong leadership, and now, two state title appearances in the past three seasons.
The Jackets edged out another overtime win on Friday, November 29th against Haywood High School, 17-14. The match up served as the third consecutive meeting between the teams, all in the TSSAA semifinals.
Discipline was the deciding factor throughout the game, as the Tomcats were tagged with eight penalties in the first half, totaling ten at the final buzzer. Junior Marquis Mays negated a touchdown during the second quarter with a blindside block, which was then followed by a holding penalty on the ensuing snap.
While penalties hampered Haywood, a lack of place kicking ruined the chances for back-to-back championship appearances for HHS, as place kicker Reid Russell whiffed on three kicks in regulation and overtime.
Springfield let Haywood stick around throughout the game, however: a costly interception just before halftime that would eventually tie the game, inexplicable unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and botched snaps gave additional scoring opportunities for the Jackets' opposition.
Senior Cale Jones was arguably the most valuable player for the Jackets on the evening, pinning Haywood inside their own ten yard line twice in the second half. Poor field position would handicap a Tomcats' offense that averaged a staggering 37 points per game.
Despite poor field position, countless penalties, and missing an earlier attempt, Haywood would have an opportunity to win the game in regulation, a kick from 34 yards out with ten seconds remaining. Russell would shank the kick far right, thus giving Springfield a chance to win the game in overtime.
Tight End Markleston Douglas would have two passes thrown his direction on the Tomcats' overtime drive, yet both were either dropped, or well-defended in the end zone. Russell would line up from ten yards out two plays later, and miss his third field goal of the evening, ringing off the far upright.
Springfield's final drive at home in 2019 ended with two runs and a Luis Díaz-Jijon 27 yard boot to send the Jackets to state. Their home record for the season ends with eight wins and one loss, improving the all-time win total to 20 in their new stadium.
SHS’ last appearance in Cookeville was the inaugural season of that same arena, which resulted in a 54-13 loss to Greeneville High. Although the competition will not be of the same name as two years prior, the caliber remains the same: the Elizabethton Fighting Cyclones (14-0) stand in the way of Springfield's first state title in a quarter of a decade. Elizabethton most notably defeated the Green Devils earlier in the season, 24-21, and comes off a 34-12 victory at Nolensville.
The Jackets have rattled off 8 straight wins after starting the season 4-3, when most fans, alumnus, and every one in between had wrote the season off as a rebuilding year. The fan base has since adopted the mantra of "Why not us?", and the team is playing as such.
So, why not Springfield? The Jackets will play Saturday, December 7th at Tucker Stadium, in the Battle for the Blue Cross Bowl.
- Blaine Kellar is a Broadcasting and Journalism intern for Social Dweebs, which has covered Springfield High School athletics since 2018.
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