“Every time we come in we try to win the day,” Gilbreath said. “We don’t really look at our record. We try to go 1-0 every week and then we’re on to the next one.”
»RELATED: Regional final matchups
The Wildcats enter new territory this weekend — Week 13. Springfield (11-1) will play Dublin Coffman (10-2) in the Division I, Region 2 final at 7 p.m. Friday at London High School's Bowlus Field. The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced on Tuesday the Region 2 winner will play the Region 4 winner — Cincinnati Elder (10-2) or Cincinnati Colerain (11-1) — in the state semifinals at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at a site to be determined.
The Wildcats advanced to the regional final for the first time in combined school history with a 37-14 victory over Dublin Jerome last week.
It’s been 17 years since a Springfield City School District football team last played to the regional final. No team from the district — North, South or Springfield — has advanced to the state semifinals.
“We’ve worked hard all season and it’s a blessing to make it this far,” Gilbreath said. “We’re going to keep grinding day-in and day-out.”
»PHOTOS: Springfield Wildcats 2019 season
Gilbreath and the Wildcats defensive unit have come up big all season. Springfield has allowed an average of 10.7 points per game and has three shutouts this season. They’ve allowed more than 17 points just two times.
The key has been learning the game in the classroom, said Wildcats defensive coordinator Conley Smoot.
“The kids are buying in, watching film and understanding the game a whole lot better,” said Smoot said. “There’s a ton of leadership and it’s not just the seniors. It’s the sophomores holding each other accountable. We’ve got a freshman starting middle linebacker (Jaivian Norman) and he’s buying in. They’re just playing great as a group.”
The Wildcats defense has been challenged all year, facing every type of offense imaginable.
“We’ve played a grueling schedule,” Smoot said. “We were blessed to play the Wing-T and triple option teams in back-to-back weeks, but we’ve seen just about every formation, every wrinkle. We’ve seen pocket passers, scrambling quarterbacks. The schedule has really helped us out.”
Week 13 brings another challenge in Dublin Coffman’s spread attack.The Shamrocks have scored 45 and 42 points, respectively, in playoff victories over Perrysburg and Toledo Whitmer.
“If you can stop the run, you’ve got a chance,” said Springfield coach Maurice Douglass. “We’ve done a good job of that thus far. We’ve just got to be consistent and pay attention to details. If we get lined up properly, we should be OK.”
A year ago, the Wildcats were eliminated by Hilliard Davidson in Week 12 at London. They’re hoping to walk off the field in Madison County as winners this year, securing the first state semifinal berth in program history.
“It’s a whole different atmosphere playing in Week 13,” Gilbreath said.
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