SPRINGFIELD TWP. — Springfield Twp. freshman Mekhi Paschall knew heading into Friday night’s game his coach had a play dialed up for him.
He was ready. On Chris Shelly’s team, if you’re a playmaker you better be.
Paschall caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jack McGuckin on the Spartans’ first play of the game that paved the way for a 35-0 romp over Lower Moreland.
“It’s a shot play,” Paschall said. “Coach (Chris) Shelly. He definitely always tries to get me the ball as much as he can. I just do what I do.”
“I’m in attack mode all the time,” Shelly added. “If I got dudes, we’re gonna attack. We felt like we had the right play call and we both knew it’s over when we get the matchup we want.
Paschall’s touchdown spotted the Spartans (4-1) a 7-0 lead 14 seconds into the game. Sophomore running back Zymir Small added a 12-yard TD run before Paschall picked off a pass and ran it back to the one-yard line to set up senior CJ Johnson for the first of his three scores.
Springfield led previously undefeated Lower Moreland (4-1) 21-0 with two and a half minutes left in the first quarter.
Johnson added touchdown catches of 85 and 23 yards in the second quarter to make it 35-0 heading into half. The first came on a pop pass from McGuckin as he came in motion and the second one came on a pass from McGuckin as he sprinted out wide.
“Honestly, I just do what I do. If I get the ball I’m gonna score,” said Johnson, who totaled 122 yards and three touchdowns on his six touches in the game.
Springfield built up a 21-0 lead on Elizabethtown last week before needing a field goal with nine seconds left to sneak out with a 24-21 win. There was no need for dramatics this week as the clock continued to run throughout the second half.
After a perfect strike to Paschall to start the game, McGuckin finished 4-of-6 for 176 yards and three touchdowns (with plenty of help from his playmakers) before handing the ball over to sophomore Gus May in the second half.
Lower Moreland senior running back Guilherme Santiago highlighted the Lions’ offensive performers with 14 carries for 56 yards. It was a tough day for Lower Moreland as Springfield’s defensive front wreaked havoc in the Lions’ backfield.
Senior defensive back Amari Williams had his name called on the loudspeaker multiple times for tackles for loss. Senior defensive lineman Ryan Vernick, senior linebacker Nick Ebner and junior safety Mike Capoferri were a few of the other ones helping lead the dominant defensive effort. It was the third shutout this season for the Spartans’ defense.
“Our whole defense, we challenged them. … We knew coming out we were going to go after them for four quarters,” Shelly said.
The loss spoiled the best start in a long time for Lower Moreland. The Lions haven’t won more than four games in a season since 2014. They host Academy New Church next Friday afternoon looking to change that.
Shelly’s squad looks much improved from last season’s 3-6 squad. The Spartans have 19 seniors and some talented youngsters, including an impressive freshman class highlighted by Paschall.
They’ve won four in a row since losing to reigning District 1-4A champion Pope John Paul II, 34-27, and feel they’re capable of making some noise in the second half of the season.
“I talk all the time about our 2011 team, which beat Imhotep,” Shelly said. “That was probably one of our best teams, but I’d put these guys up with them. We gotta get to that point, but they know.”
“This team, and I’ve been around awhile, has a special togetherness, tightness about it,” he added. “It’s special, a family. We’re excited to see how far. We’re not even there yet. We’re halfway there but we can go a long way with some more cleaning up some stuff.”
Next up on the schedule is Upper Moreland, which took down the Spartans 24-7 last season.
“We’re actually looking really good right now,” Johnson said. “I like how we started off. Like right now, we’re easy, we’re cool, we’re chillin. 4-1. We’re going against Upper Moreland next week. Big game for us for sure, and we just gotta take it to them.”
Springfield Twp. 35, Lower Moreland 0
Lower Moreland 0 0 7 0-0
Springfield Twp. 21 14 0 0-35
Individual Scoring
First Quarter
SF: Mekhi Paschall 61 pass from Jack McGuckin (Bobby Hartman kick) 11:46
SF: Zymir Small 12 run (Bobby Hartman kick) 3:19
SF: CJ Johnson 1 run (Bobby Hartman kick) 2:28
Second Quarter
SF: CJ Johnson 85 pass from Jack McGuckin (Bobby Hartman kick) 6:15
SF: CJ Johnson 23 pass from Jack McGuckin (Bobby Hartman kick) 3:27
Third Quarter
None.
Fourth Quarter
None.
Team Statistics
………………………..LM………………SF
1st downs………..10…………………8
rush-yds……….25-34……….17-67
comp-att-int….4-12-1…………..7-9-0
pass yds……….62………………182
total yds…………96……………….249
fumb-lost……..0-0………………2-1
pen-yds…………4-34…………..8-91
Individual Statistics
Rushing- Lower Moreland: Guilherme Santiago 14-56; Kevin Fay 5-(-5); Thomas Maloney 2-(-7); Trent Stahl 4-(-10);
Springfield: Zymir Small 2-32, TD; Bobby Hartman 1-9; CJ Johnson 3-7, TD; Jude Nosal 2-7; Jack McGuckin 4-5; Caden Bronson 2-5; Phoenix Ferragame 2-2; Gus May 1-0.
Passing- Lower Moreland: Kevin Fay 4-9-0, 62 yards; Thomas Maloney 0-3-1, 0 yards.
Springfield: Jack McGuckin 4-6-0, 176 yards, 3 TDs; Gus May 3-3-0, 6 yards.
Receiving- Lower Moreland: Braden Campbell 2-36; Thomas Maloney 1-18; David Rietzen 1-8.
SpringField: CJ Johnson 3-115, 2 TDs; Mekhi Paschal 1-61, TD; Caden Bronson 3-6.
Interceptions: Springfield: Mekhi Paschall.
Sacks: Lower Moreland: Santino Vassalotti; Springfield: Bobby Hartman, Amari Williams, Patrick Mulqueeny.
