Springfield travels to Roosevelt for key PTC Metro game

Springfield will travel Kent Roosevelt tonight and attempt to win their second consecutive Portage Trail Conference Metro Division game.

The Spartans defeated visiting Crestwood 33-14 last Friday after a 16-13 loss to visiting Field the previous Friday.

Spartans coach Kevin Vaughn said he was impressed by “The team's ability to bounce back with a victory after a tough loss. The kids maintained a positive frame of mind the entire week of practice and focused on the game at hand.”

Sophomore Dillon Matthews rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries.

Vaughn said Springfield (5-2, 3-1) has struggled with the kicking game, particularly kick-off and field goal units the past few weeks. He also said John Hofer has been injured and that “has affected depth on both sides of the ball, but more importantly with our special teams.”

Vaughn expects Hofer to “be back in action this week and that should alleviate some of the problems we've had in the past.”

Roosevelt (5-2, 2-2) will present Springfield with some problems.

“Their team speed is a definite threat to us in all three phases of the game,” Vaughn said. ‘We have a lot of respect for Coach (John) Nemec and his staff and know that they will always put a quality team on the field. We feel Evan Shimensky does a great job at the quarterback position and is very exciting to watch. He is the key to their offense. We need to contain Shimensky and his passing game for us to win. … Part of containing Shimensky will be keeping him and the Kent offense off the field by controlling the clock with our ground game. A solid dose of Zack Talbert and Dillon Matthews carrying the ball successfully will help us achieve that goal.”

Springfield is seeking its first victory against Kent since the start of the new PTC.