SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (BVM) — After taking home the state championship in 2018, the Springfield Central Golden Eagles didn’t think that was enough, so they went out and snatched another state championship in the 2019-2020 season.

The Golden Eagles had a stunning overall record of 10-2, 5-0 in their league conference (AA league), becoming back-to-back champions in 2019, as they beat Duxbury in the state final, 38-13. 

“Being able to win the state championship was like a dream,” Golden Eagles assistant football coach Darryl Denson said. “So much pressure was lifted off of our shoulders due to all eyes being on us to repeat or just being a one-and-done team. 

“Being able to see these young African American athletes reach this goal was like a proud big brother moment. Knowing that all our hard work didn’t just be seen behind closed doors but also on the biggest stage of the year for us as a team. Knowing that we shocked the state was the best feeling with all the hype they placed on Duxbury’s team.”

It’s always good to have those eyes on you because it makes you not want to mess up and it drives the competitiveness out of each player. Winning back-to-back championships is not an easy task and the fact that the Golden Eagles were able to do this says a lot about the athletes, but also the coaching staff. 

The Golden Eagles coach talked about what gives his team such an edge over their competition. 

“What gives us an edge in the state of Massachusetts is that everyone knows when we come into town, it’s all business and then party time,” Denson said. “Teams having to mentally prepare for what can happen due to our weapons gives us the upper hand on defense. Now on defense, teams know that if they are going to score, they are going to have to work, due to how skilled we are from the front seven to our secondary.” 

The Golden Eagles have been receiving national attention with multiple players signing their letter of intents to Division I college programs such as defensive lineman Terry Lockett, wide receiver Joseph Griffin, and quarterback William Watson. 

“Seeing our players commit to Division I schools is an accomplishment first for them, and their families,” Denson said. “To see them sign that white dotted line shows the amount of time they spent buying into our program’s blueprint. As a coaching staff this is simply us doing our part as being their mentors in the building, on the field, and off the field. At the end of the day we do this because we want kids to get first, education, and secondly, the best football they can play for their college career.” 

Just recently, sophomore quarterback William Watson received an offer from Arizona State making that seven offers from Division I schools. The dual-threat quarterback this past season threw for 2,562 yards on 208 passing attempts and would finish the year throwing for 32 touchdowns as well as seven rushing touchdowns. 

The 6-foot, 170 pound quarterback poses a threat to any team because of his natural athletic abilities. Watson can beat you with a strong arm or with his elusiveness on the ground. 

One of Watson’s biggest weapons is 6-foot-4 wide receiver Joseph Griffin who decided to stay home, committing to Boston College back in October. The standout receiver caught 37 balls for 739 yards in the 2019-2020 season including eight touchdowns on the year. His play this last season is one of the reasons why the Golden Eagles went on a championship run.

Griffin and Watson have become a dynamic duo on the offensive side of the ball, making them the one of the best pairs in Massachusetts’ football. 

On the defensive side of the ball, offenses had to deal with defensive linemen Terry Lockett who recently committed to Syracuse University. What makes Lockett so special is his frame at 6-foot-1, 255 pounds. He comes off the ball like a lightning bolt but not only that, he uses his hands to get away from defenders very well. 

This past season Lockett had 60 tackles, 42 of those being solo tackles. He also had an interception and one forced fumble on the year in which he returned for a touchdown. 

“What made Terry Lockett such a force or presence on our defense was his leadership, followed by his play,” Denson said. “Being a starter for so many years allowed him to come into his leadership role that we all knew he had deep down. He spent several hours throughout the day just to study and visualize how he would make the offense adjust to him instead of him adjusting to their scheme. His quick first step and hand placement/power caused a lot of clogging to happen in the run game, on passing downs he either outsmarted you with a move or overpowered you when bull rushing. 

“Overall he was causing teams to either double him, or run opposite of him in the run game and then get extra protection in the passing either from another offensive linemen or getting chipped by a running back or full back. The kid just caused havoc each time that whistle was blown.” 

The Golden Eagles are still celebrating their championship win by receiving the key to the city by Mayor Domenic Sarno.

“We were in a hole at the beginning of the year, losing those two games,” Lockett said. “What good teams do is they don’t continue to go downhill. They always try to find a way to better the team and try to go forward. That was one accomplishment that I liked.”

The Golden Eagles for the past two years have been a force within the state of Massachusetts, producing numerous collegiate athletes. 

It’s very easy to get distracted by inner city life in Springfield. The coaching staff at Central High School made sure to keep their athletes focused and dedicated to wanting a better life, which resulted in their championship. 

“Defeating the odds is one of our smaller goals as a program,” Denson stated. “We know we have targets on our backs for so many other reasons, but beating them is important to us because we are always seen as the odd ball coming out of the western side of Massachusetts. Showing that there is talent on the Western side of Massachusetts was a statement that we have ballers as well, not only to the state, but to our other city teams. It’s possible to be a successful team [and] come out of a high rated crime city. We always have the mindset to shock the world and then rest to zero to humble ourselves at all times.”

The Golden Eagles are looking forward to working towards another championship making it a 3-peat.

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