Submitted photo / Magic Moments Photography The 2024 Springfield football team.

NEW MIDDLETOWN — Springfield has experienced a lot of success in the nearly two decades Sean Guerriero has been leading the football program.

Many times, when teams become consistent winners, it is the result of a system or philosophy that is strictly adhered to. But the Tigers, Guerriero believes, must remain flexible.

“Sometimes, guys have systems. With us, sometimes we don’t,” Guerriero said. “I mean, if we could go five wide, we would go five wide. If we can go four wide, we would, but sometimes you kind of gotta go off the strengths. When you talk about a system, we kind of got to adjust to our kids and our strengths. We got to try to put them in good situations.”

Whether rigid or flexible, system or no system, it has all worked quite well for Springfield.

The Tigers have not posted a losing season since 2015, and in each of the last five seasons, the team has won at least one playoff game. In 2019 and 2020, Springfield reached the state championship game, and in 2021, the Tigers advanced to the state semifinal.

Last year, Springfield rattled off six consecutive victories after a 1-2 start to the season. Following a 27-13 road loss to Lowellville in the regular-season finale, the Tigers continued their playoff victory streak with a 35-21 win over Monroeville before falling to Danville.

Entering his 18th season as Springfield head football coach, Guerriero, who also became the school district’s athletic director this year, said the 2024 team is a mix of youth and experience that he feels positive about and has “a lot of upside.”

“I feel like our kids are progressing,” Guerriero said. “We’re trying to find our way a little bit, get guys in the right spot. … I like our kids’ energy. I think the seniors do a good job pushing the kids.”

OFFENSE

With Kolten Ruark, Springfield’s starting quarterback the last two seasons, graduating this past spring, the Tigers have been searching for his replacement.

Throughout the summer, two players competed against each other for the vacant position: junior Brayden Baird and sophomore Marco Gentile.

“They kind of both have [different] strengths,” Guerriero said. “We’re going to talk about that with where we can put those guys in good situations.”

Guerriero, who said he wanted to establish a consistent ground attack this season, said doing so would only aid in taking the pressure off of either of the inexperienced quarterbacks.

“I think a run game will help those guys out work, and play action, things of that nature,” Guerriero said. “But we just can’t put too much on those kids. But they’re both getting better. They’re both making plays and I feel good about the direction that those two are going.”

As for when and how the new Springfield starting quarterback will be decided, Guerriero seemed content with the idea of entering the season with both players taking snaps in games.

“They need reps. We’re working on a couple of new concepts or a couple of new glitches that we have, so we just got to continue to get better.

“I don’t want to say they’re two different kids, but they both got some things that they do really well. So we might be playing both of them at times. But when the time is right and one takes off, I want to keep that competition running as long as I can just to make sure they don’t get comfortable.”

Guerriero expressed the most confidence in the Tigers’ running backs, which he remarked was probably the team’s best position group on offense.

“Hopefully we’re going to be able to establish the run. If we could, maybe [it will] slow down the game a little bit for us,” Guerriero said. “But if our line keeps progressing and our backs keep progressing, I would like to establish the run, because hopefully, if we’re fortunate enough to get into the playoffs, you got to be able to move the football on the ground when the weather gets bad.”

Specifically, Guerriero believes a trio of backs – Dante Gentile, Wyatt Kuboff and Kaesen Kosek – will be vital to the team’s success offensively. Gentile and Kosek combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns as juniors last season.

On the outside, Aiden Appel, Carson Cunningham, Isaac LaMorticella and Cash Richardson comprise a veteran receiving corps.

“We’re probably about six deep at the wideout spot, so I feel good with all six wideouts,” Guerriero said. “If we can stay fresh and be able to do that, I feel good about those impact kids.”

DEFENSE

Defensively, it’s about the linebackers.

“I feel like our strength is going to be linebacker-wise,” Guerriero said. “We have all four guys coming back in that core between Dante, Kaesen, Joey Centofanti and Wyatt Kuboff. That’s a great core coming back.”

Guerriero also said the team will have some much-needed experience in the secondary, where LaMorticella, Appel and Cunningham are returning. Richardson will be moving to safety this season.

Up front, two-way senior starter Thomas Sheely is expected to be an experienced, stabilizing force for a line that will also feature Matthew Garcia, Donovan Tydings, Vincent Kinsey and Russell Lyda.

Some parts of the defense lack varsity reps, but they have been making up for it with effort.

“Right now, I just like our attitude and I like the way we’re flying around,” Guerriero said. “So I feel really good about our guys, getting hands on and being physical and running to the football.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kosek returns as the team’s placekicker. He made 39-of-42 extra points last season as a junior.

As for kick and punt returns, Guerriero named LaMorticella and Appel as potential game-changers.

“Aiden Appel was one of our returners – he could be electric at times when he’s touching the ball,” Guerriero said. “Isaac LaMorticella is another guy who it seems like when he catches the ball in space, he’s making plays. So I feel positive with our core group where we have those guys coming back.”

Have an interesting story? Contact Preston Byers by email at pbyers@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @PresByers.