The Springfield Wildcats had reigned as the dominant team in the Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) for an impressive five years, establishing themselves as a perennial state powerhouse. Their aura of invincibility had cast a shadow over the Elks, but on this Friday night, the Elks were determined to break the streak.
The game, characterized by its intense defensive struggles, saw a total of nine turnovers, two defensive touchdowns, and even a safety. From the first possession, it was clear that this game would be a fierce battle. Senior quarterback Drake Wells threw an interception, giving Springfield their first of four turnovers. However, the resilient Elk defense quickly responded as senior Reggie Powers intercepted a Springfield pass, setting the stage for a back-and-forth encounter.
Both teams traded punts, but with just 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Wells threw his second interception of the game. Springfield's defense capitalized on this mistake, returning the ball 60 yards for a touchdown and taking a 7-0 lead. Nevertheless, the Elks refused to be disheartened and swiftly answered back. Sophomore Parker Johnson ran the ball in from 4 yards out, knotting the game at 7-7.
Despite some moments of brilliance, the Elks faced adversity once again when, with 8:04 left in the second quarter, Wells was chased into his own end zone by Springfield's defense, resulting in a safety. Springfield seized the opportunity, connecting on a 47-yard touchdown pass on the subsequent play, extending their lead to 16-7 with 7:55 left in the half.
The game took another dramatic turn as Johnson fumbled the ball on the first play of the Elks' next possession, giving Springfield excellent field position at the Elk 25-yard line. This is where the Centerville defense stepped up, making a crucial stop. Senior Seth Alejandrino's incredible interception at the Wildcat 1-yard line with five minutes left in the first half prevented Springfield from further extending their lead. Drake Wells led the offense down the field at the end of the half with great third down conversion throws the senior Bryce Cowgill and sophomore Quincy Capogna and junior Leland Gantz nailed a 35 yard field goal with 54 seconds left in the half.
Trailing 16-10 at halftime, the Elks showed their determination by mounting a comeback. Senior Ross Coppock intercepted a Springfield pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter, putting Centerville ahead 17-16. The Elk defense continued to shine, forcing the Wildcats to punt twice during the third quarter, while the offense capitalized on the favorable field position. Johnson scored his second touchdown of the night with a 3-yard run, extending the Elks' lead to 24-16.
In the fourth quarter, Springfield threatened to close the gap, driving down to the Elks' 7-yard line after a successful fourth-down conversion. However, a fumble on the QB/RB exchange handed the ball back to Centerville as senior Sam Bomberry recovered the fumble.. The resilient Elk defense forced their fifth Wildcat turnover of the game when Coppock secured his second interception at the Elk 1-yard line with 3:22 left in the game. From there, the Elk offense ran out the clock, securing an incredible 24-16 victory over the Springfield Wildcats.
With this stunning win, the Centerville Elks improved to an impressive 7-1 overall and remained undefeated in the GWOC at 5-0. They now sit one game ahead of Wayne for first place in the conference. The stage is set for their next challenge, as they prepare to host Fairmont on Friday, October 13th, at Centerville Stadium for Senior Night. The ceremony will honor senior players, cheerleaders, managers, student trainers, and Jazz Band members, beginning at 6:30 pm. In the spirit of camaraderie, both schools will also be raising money for their selected charities through Spirit Chain.
For those eager to witness this exciting matchup, tickets are available online at
