Springfield Central captures 3rd straight Super Bowl title
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (BVM) — After winning back-to-back Division 3 Super Bowl titles, the Golden Eagles would enter the 2021 season with a target on their backs as they made the move into the state’s highest division.
After hearing the critics of their success at the lower level classification, Springfield Central made it a priority to prove its doubters wrong in their switch to Division 1. Led by the dynamic duo of junior quarterback William Watson III and senior wide receiver Joseph Griffin Jr., the Golden Eagles would be up for the challenge.
Griffin, a 6-foot-4 wideout who’s committed to Boston College, racked up nearly 2,000 yards receiving yards throughout his high school career and left his mark on the 2021 season hauling in 11 touchdowns.
The Springfield Central wide receiver has been a safety blanket throughout Watson’s career as the team’s signal caller. The dual-threat quarterback has taken Massachusetts by storm accounting for 2,213 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in his junior season. He also finished with 599 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the year.
The Golden Eagles star-studded offense was a problem all year long for opponents, averaging 41.4 points per game during the regular season. Following early losses to Central Cathloic and IMG Academy during the beginning of the campaign, Springfield Central would find its stride as the year progressed, rattling off seven straight wins during the regular season.
The momentum carried over in the team’s opening playoff matchup against Franklin High School as the Golden Eagles ended the Panthers perfect season in a 60-49 win. Central’s high-scoring offense was once again aided by the team’s duo of Watson and Griffin as the junior quarterback tallied 395 yards passing and five touchdowns, while Griffin finished with 185 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The breakout performance would set up a rematch of the team’s opening loss as Springfield Central prepared for its revenge against Catholic Central for the state’s Division 1 Super Bowl crown.
After a 67-52 shootout in the team’s first game, the state title matchup would play out in a much different way. After firing off a couple of early scores, Springfield Central would head into halftime with a 22-8 lead. The scoring for the Golden Eagles however would stop there. Led by the team’s offense for much of the year, Springfield Central would have to rely on its defense to close things out.
With help from a familiar face, Griffin would make his impact felt on the defensive side in the team’s championship game, as the usual offensive threat sealed the game with a late interception of Central Catholic quarterback Ayden Pereira.
With the team unable to put anymore points on the board in the second half, Springfield Central proved to be too much on the defensive end, holding the Raiders to just 15 points.
Following the 22-15 win, the Golden Eagles were more than ready to let it’s naysayers know that they heard the chatter.
“I had to humble Eastern Mass.,” Springfield Central quarterback William Watson told the Boston Herald. “They think we’re beneath them, so I had to show them what’s up.”
With the Division 1 Super Bowl title, the Golden Eagles have now won three straight state championships as Springfield Central heads towards historic territory with its new-found dynasty.
