The win is the second in a row for the Wildcats, but they needed to rally in the second half to earn it. After jumping out 14-0, Northmont scored 23 unanswered points to take a 9-point lead.
Springfield started its comeback midway through the third quarter. Shane Ramey broke through the line and ran 31 yards to give Springfield a first-and-goal at Northmont’s 1-yard line. Springfield quarterback Leonard Taylor ran in on the next play to cut the Thunderbolts’ lead to 23-21.
Northmont drove inside Springfield’s 3 on its next possession but was stopped on three straight running plays. The Thunderbolts tried to score on fourth-and-goal but couldn’t connect to an open receiver in the end zone.
Springfield quickly drove into the red zone on the next drive after a couple of big runs and the help of facemask and horse-collar penalties by Northmont. Taylor bulldozed his way up the middle from three yards out to give Springfield a 28-23 lead.
Ramey intercepted a pass on Northmont’s next drive and returned it to the Springfield 5. He ran it in two plays later to extend Springfield’s advantage to 12 points with 11:59 left in the fourth.
The Thunderbolts quickly responded with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Brenden Reck to Jabari Perkins, which narrowed Springfield’s lead to 35-29 with 10:16 left in the fourth.
Northmont’s Garrett McCough intercepted a pass on the next drive, but the Thunderbolts turned it back over on a fumble shortly after. Springfield ran out most of the clock, but the Thunderbolts got the ball back with under two minutes left. Scott ended the drive with his game-winning interception with about 40 seconds left.
It’s the third game in a row Ramey has rushed for over 100 yards. He had 95 rushing yards in the first half and also caught a 19-yard touchdown pass.
“This is big for us,” Ramey said. “Everyone has looked down on us, but we put it together and got a big win.”
Springfield (5-2, 1-0 GWOC National East) has won four out of its last five. The ‘Cats entered ranked seventh in Division I, Region 3 and will likely climb this week as a result of Friday’s win. They resume divisional play next week at Beavercreek and host Wayne and Fairmont at Evans Stadium the last two weeks of the season.
Northmont (3-4, 0-1 GWOC National West) has lost three consecutive games. The Thunderbolts travel to Centerville next week.
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