By Dan Barile
Eagle Times Correspondent
When Windsor (7-1) and Springfield (5-4) square-off at MacLeay-Royce Field on Saturday, Nov. 4, it will be the fourth time since 2017 that the rivals have faced each other in the Division 3 playoffs. While Windsor won each of those matchups and defeated Springfield earlier this season, you can be sure Greg Balch is doing everything in his power to keep the Yellow Jackets focused on the task at hand this weekend.
Windsor won this year’s regular season matchup by a comfortable 32-6 margin on Oct. 7. Despite the 26-point defeat, the Cosmos remained competitive throughout the first half. Springfield struck first after a fumble recovery by Riley Snide gave them possession at the Windsor 25-yard line. Two plays later, Carson Clark tossed a touchdown pass to James Gultekin to give the Cosmos a 6-0 lead. Windsor responded a couple of possessions later when Brody Olmstead ran 65-yards for the score. The score remained tied at 6 until Windsor regained possession with only 90 seconds left in the half. The Yellow Jackets executed a quick strike from Corey Lockwood to Daniel Haugaard-Steffensen, extending their lead to 12-6.
The second half was all Windsor as the Yellow Jackets added 20 points and kept Springfield scoreless. While the second half didn’t go the way Springfield wanted, an injury to star quarterback and linebacker Carson Clark was of even greater concern. It was later determined that Clark’s injury would be season-ending.
Following Clark’s injury, Springfield suffered a disappointing 48-19 loss at BFA-Fairfax. The Cosmos would regroup the following week during their home finale against Poultney. After playing to a scoreless tie during the first half, Springfield exploded for 3 touchdowns in the second half on their way to a 19-0 win. Cam Williams played an instrumental role at quarterback with 124 yards rushing, and running back Luke Stocker completed a couple of long halfback passes to ignite the offense. Springfield won again the following week with an upset win on the road over Otter Valley to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2017.
Windsor is in the semifinals for the third straight year after back-to-back undefeated state championships. The Yellow Jackets did face a rare bump in the road since their game against Springfield as they lost 36-15 against Woodstock on Oct. 21. Despite the tough loss against the Wasps, the Yellow Jackets bounced back to dominate Poultney, 47-12, in last week’s quarterfinal matchup.
With an appearance in the state championship on the line, look for an intense matchup between these local rivals this weekend. If Springfield can pull-off a surprise victory, it would be their first playoff win over Windsor since a 52-28 win in the 2008 Division 3 State Championship game.
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