Springfield football: Wildcats host Wayne in GWOC showdown

Springfield, just two weeks ago flirting with Wildcats high school football history, now is playing for its postseason life and that’s after winning last week.

»RELATED: Week 9 football power rankings

Springfield (7-1) rebounded from its first loss in Week 7 at Northmont with a sluggish 21-14 defeat of Beavercreek last week. What’s wrong with that? Beavercreek has one win and allowed an average of 36 points in its previous seven games.

»RELATED: “Let the chaos begin”

»RELATED: Flyin’ to the Hoop schedule

That quick-strike offense that served the Wildcats so well during their 6-0 season start? Gone.

“It was ugly,” Springfield coach Maurice Douglass said. “We just want to win. It doesn’t matter if it’s by one or by 50. We won. That’s the only thing that’s good about it.”

»RELATED: Week 9 football schedule

The playoffs essentially start for Springfield in Friday’s Week 9 Greater Western Ohio Conference National East matchup against visiting Wayne (6-2). Both teams are in Division I, Region 3 playoff contention, but likely will have to split their final two regular-season games to do so. That will be a challenge.

Springfield hosts Fairmont (6-2) in Week 10. Fairmont, which knocked Springfield out of playoff contention in Week 10 last season, is coming off a 49-44 shootout loss at Wayne. Trotwood-Madison (6-2) is at Wayne in Week 10.

»RELATED: Week 8 football rewind

Northmont (7-1) appears to be in the best D-I, Region 3 playoff position, but that could change at Miamisburg (6-2) in Week 10.

Wayne (3-0) leads the GWOC East and Springfield (2-0) is second. Many of the key Springfield and Wayne players greeted each other during Tuesday’s Premier Health Flyin’ to the Hoop schedule release at Miami Valley Hospital North in Englewood.

»PHOTOS: Fairmont at Wayne, Week 8 football

Asked how many of his returning basketball players also play football, Springfield coach Isaiah Carson grinned and said, “90 percent.”

• Also among the top eight in playoff contention are Bellefontaine (D-III, Region 11) and Greeneview (D-V, Region 20). Mechanicsburg (D-VI, Region 24) has clinched and is bidding for a first-round home game.

»PHOTOS: Miamisburg at Lebanon, Week 8 football

»RELATED: D-I boys district golf goes OT

Shawnee (No. 9), Alder (No. 10) and Northwestern (No. 11) all are in contention for at least the last qualifying spot in D-IV, Region 16. All likely must win out to do so.

Shawnee (4-4) is at Bellefontaine (6-2) on Friday and hosts Alder in Week 10. Northwestern (5-3) hosts Kenton Ridge (5-3) on Friday and is at Graham (1-7) in Week 10. Alder (5-3) hosts Tecumseh (5-3) on Friday.

»RELATED: Here comes streaking Alter

• Urbana senior Nic Dorsey (1,227 yards) continues to lead the Central Buckeye Conference in rushing. Northwestern’s Eli Berner (944 yards), Garret Proxmire of Jonathan Alder (944), Bellefontaine’s Garrett Gross (916) and Dylan Leman of Kenton Ridge (884) all are within range of surpassing 1,000 yards.

• Springfield junior Tavion Smoot needs a combined 253 yards rushing in the final two regular-season games for 1,000 yards. He leads the Wildcats with 747 yards (6.5 average) and has four touchdowns.