The win also keeps the Wildcats’ hopes of a Greater Western Ohio Conference National East title alive as they improved to 2-0 in the division.
Beavercreek, once 4-1, fell to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the GWOC.
After a wild first half, the teams swapped late scores, with Springfield recording its lone score of the second half with 8:14 remaining after recovering a Beavercreek fumble at the Beavers’ 23.
Leonard Taylor capped the four-play drive with a 1-yard run to push the Wildcats lead to 32-21.
Beavercreek answered right back with 13-yard pass to Justin Terrell from Cody Hocker, but Danny Davis recovered the onside kick attempt and the Wildcats killed the final 3:30 to preserve the win.
It took a big play on defense to get either offense rolling in a first half that featured a blocked punt, a successful onside kick and a fumble recovery for a score.
Springfield blocked a Beavercreek punt and recovered on the Beaver 8. One play later, Shane Ramey had the Wildcats on the board.
The 6-0 lead didn’t last long as Julian Linkart took the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for a score and a 7-6 lead after Marcella Cash converted the point after.
The Wildcats continued to find alternate sources of offense early in the game.
Taylor’s first score came when he scooped up a Beaver fumble and raced 75 yards after Beavercreek had recovered an onside kick and was driving.
Ramey’s score started a streak of seven straight possessions that ended in points.
Beavercreek answered Taylor’s scoop-six with a 12-play drive that covered 55 yards and ate 6:12 off the clock.
The Beavers, behind the running of Rodney Alston, converted two fourth downs on the drive with Noah Corrigan hauling in a 3-yard pass from Cody Hocker to tie the game at 14-14.
Springfield’s big-play offense showed up late in the first half as the Wildcats used two runs of more than 50 yards by Daniel Davis to set up short scoring runs by Davis and Taylor.
Beavercreek answered Davis’ score with another long scoring drive when Steve Llanas bulled in from the 11to end a 14 play drive and give the hosts a brief 21-20 lead.
The teams were separated by less than five yards in first-half offense.
Springfield had 151 yards, all on the ground, with Ramey leading the way with 96 and Davis adding 52. Beavercreek had 153 overall with Alston’s 63 leading the Beavers to 119 on the ground.
The Wildcats host Wayne, the state’s second-ranked team, next Friday.
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