Springfield (M) is excited about the return of varsity football

Days after a 27-point loss to Octorara in last season's football opener, Springfield-Montco's Eddie Goldsmith and Max Perry returned to practice believing hard work would pave the way for improvement.

But a same-day notice to come back to school for a meeting had Goldsmith and Max Perry rightfully concerned.

That's when Springfield's administrators, citing a lack of numbers and overall experience, pulled the plug on varsity football for 2016.

"It really hit me hard," said Perry, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior quarterback. "Football is a big part of my life, and it was tough to learn that we were going to stop playing at the varsity level."

The Spartans had about 32 players on its varsity roster during training camp last year. That number had dropped to the low 20s by the time it played Octorara.

Goldsmith, a two-way senior lineman, was beginning his first season as a varsity starter. "We had a lot of freshmen playing in our first game and then suffered some injuries as well," he said. "It didn't look good."

Now, with about 50 players in grades nine through 12, Springfield, which fielded a junior varsity squad last year, has resumed playing varsity ball.

"To have that many players, when you consider where we were at this point last season, is great," the 6-foot, 275-pound Goldsmith said.

In their official return on Aug. 25, the visiting Spartans lost to Boys' Latin of the Philadelphia Public League by a 34-6 decision in South Philly.

"It wasn't the result we wanted, of course, but we kind of made a statement by just showing up," Springfield coach Chris Shelly said.

Prior to Friday's 46-12 loss at Lower Merion, Shelly said the program had 12 freshmen, 15 sophomores, 12 juniors, and 11 seniors. "We have a nice balance of players in the four classes," Shelly said.

Shelly, a ninth-grade world history teacher at Springfield, knows the importance of football to the school, the students and the community.

The 47-year-old played quarterback and defensive back for the Spartans in the mid-1980s. He went on to be a wide receiver at Susquehanna.

In 2011, Springfield went 11-1 overall and 9-0 en route to the Bicentennial Athletic League title. It advanced to the first round of the PIAA Class 2A state playoffs before losing to West Catholic.

"This program has had a lot of success over the years," Shelly said. "We're going to bring it back. I'm going to make sure of it."

In addition to Perry, the Spartans' offensive spark plugs are tight end Sullivan Shackleford, halfback Jameer Page, and fullback Carter Stepney.

Goldmith, end Paul Asman, inside linebackers Pryce Jamison and Ray Ebner, and back Brian Maienshein, a lacrosse standout, are the leaders on defense.

Shelly said the efforts of several administrators, including Springfield Township School District superintendent Nancy Hacker and Springfield principal Charles Rittenhouse, were crucial in bringing varsity football back to Erdenheim.

Springfield, formerly a member of the Suburban One League American Conference in football, is playing an independent schedule this season. Its foes include the likes of Bristol, Lower Moreland, and New Hope-Solebury.

A new turf field and track at Spartan Stadium is under construction. The hope is that the renovations will be completed in time for a senior night and homecoming game against Strawberry Mansion on Oct. 27.

"It would be so great to have at least one home game this year," Goldsmith said. "I'm sure the atmosphere would be unbelievable."