Staff photo / Preston Byers. South Range linebacker Dylan Smesko attempts to make a tackle during Friday's game against Springfield.

BEAVER TOWNSHIP — South Range began the 2024 football season much like it began the 2023 season: by beating up on Springfield.

The two rivals met at Rominger Stadium on Friday night, but the Raiders proved to be an even greater mismatch for the Tigers than in last year’s opening encounter. A year after defeating Springfield 41-14 on the road, South Range defended its home turf with a 42-14 trouncing.

Although his team showed a little bit of everything Friday, South Range head coach David Rach described his team’s performance as a “mixed bag.”

“We competed really hard, I thought we were physical and ran to the ball and did a lot of the things stylistically we want to do. But we also made a ton of mistakes,” Rach said. “Way too many penalties, special teams blunders and just negative plays that we can we have to avoid if we want to continue to improve.”

The opening kickoff, in hindsight, was a preview of things to come, as Dylan Smesko nearly reached midfield to give the Raiders favorable field possession to begin the game.

On the first drive of the game, South Range quarterback found Gaven Nagy over the middle. Nagy reversed course, ran away from the Springfield defenders and into the end zone for a 51-yard reception and the first of many touchdowns Friday.

After forcing a quick Springfield punt, South Range went back to work on offense. Despite several penalties, the Raiders found paydirt again after converting a fourth-and-2 with a 26-yard run by Aiden Dominguez, who finished off the drive a play later with a 4-yard rushing touchdown.

One of South Range’s few unsuccessful offensive possessions was undone by self-inflicted errors; after advancing to Springfield’s six-yard line, the Raiders committed a false start and then a delay of game, forcing them to kick a field goal. Luke Starkey, who was otherwise flawless, missed the field goal to keep the score at 14-0.

“The nice part [of penalties] is it’s really easy to see how much of a difference it can make,” Rach said. “You can quantify it and say we gave up a lot of yards tonight with unforced errors that we can’t afford to.”

Despite the offense coming up empty, the Raiders’ defense responded. Springfield starting quarterback Brayden Baird attempted a deep pass toward his own sideline, but tight coverage in the secondary popped the ball into the air, and South Range defensive back Nate Lewis took advantage and recorded the first interception of the game.

After the Raiders scored another touchdown to stretch the advantage to 21 points, Springfield head coach Sean Guerriero sent out his offense with sophomore Marco Gentile at quarterback.

Guerriero indicated that the swap might not be the last of the season.

“They both had two good scrimmages before, they’re both playing good football, so we’re going to keep that competition going, and hopefully they’re going to continue to grow,” Guerriero said. “But they both have a great skill set between both of them. And I think if we can use them both, it puts a lot of pressure on teams’ defenses.”

The change did not immediately make much of a difference, as South Range’s defense continued to apply immense pressure amid a potential shutout.

After getting the ball back, the Raiders’ offense kept adding points to the scoreboard, as Toy found Troy Combs, who got to the edge and ran 35 yards for a touchdown.

A shutout was not meant to be, however, for the South Range defensive unit. After a long kickoff return to give the Tigers the ball on the Raiders’ side of the field, Gentile eventually found Carson Cunningham in the left corner of the end zone to pull — for the moment — back within three scores.

On the ensuing kickoff, though, Smesko found a crease and exploded into the open field, scoring on an 88-yard return as time in the half expired.

Any potential for a Springfield comeback seemed to end in the third quarter, when Gentile, after the Tigers advanced inside South Range’s 10-yard line, was picked off by Frank Slaina in the end zone.

Upon the Raiders’ final touchdown and PAT of the night, which put South Range ahead by 35, the game clock ticked away at lightning pace as a result of a continuously running clock.

While Noah Troggio managed to punch in a short touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, stopping the running clock, it was much too late for the Tigers on Friday.

The victory marks four in a row for South Range vs. rival Springfield, which is music to Rach’s ears.

“Anytime you beat a quality program and a great coaching staff and tradition-rich program like Springfield, it’s exciting,” Rach said. “And if you can get a couple in a row, that probably means that things are going well for you.

“It’s a great rivalry. It’s a game that means a lot to us. As soon as the season ends, it’s Springfield week. It’s something that our kids are really motivated by and work really hard at, trying to leave their legacy on this rivalry.”

As for Springfield, Guerriero said that his team did not bring enough intensity to Friday’s rivalry loss.

The Tigers host Brookfield next week, while South Range plays Salem.

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