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FRONT row. L. to R. Head Coach Al Black, Pete Rambo, Joe Lynch, Paul Melzer, Bob Elgin, Bruce Williams, Bob Neely, Rich Acierno, Gary Henderson, Rich Holmes, Assistant Coach Fred Patton.
SECOND Row. L. to R. Assistant Coach Bill Kull, Chuck Whitehead, Jim Selsor, Steve Caruso, Ted O'Hanlon, Ken O'Brien, Bob Hultberg, Barry Blum, Gary Pisarcik, Rick Gehlhaus, Mike Haggerty, Assistant Coach Glenn Kuklick.
THIRD Row. L. to R. Steve Rosa, Don Floyd, Steve Frith, Brad Schwartz, Dick Wilcher, Glen Holmes, John Witsch, Tom Sullivan, Dave Smith, Wayne Acker, Assistant Coach Bob Malehorn. .
FOURTH Row. L. to R. Duck Edwards, Jack Hatch, Frank Calogero. John Moffitt, Stu Rambo, Jim Phelps, Wayne Mehrer, Bruce Kingeter, Hut Calhoun, George Allen.
FIFTH Row. L. to R. Bruce Floyd, Dick Wilcher, Bob Deal, Gary Lester, Chris Keenan, Bob Brown, Steve Maturi, Tim Callahan, Glenn Salo, Steve Folger.
SIXTH Row, L. to R. Mike Hilferty, Craig Barry, Jeff Ward, Bruce Griffin, Adam Stagliano, Bill Wooler, Mike Gaydos, Dean Rosa, John Campbell, Bruce Anderson.
SEVENTH Row. L. to R. Manager Jeff Lipson, Rob Tobin, Chris Hildebrand, Brian Sullivan, Ric Marvin, Bob Acker, Mike Suchy, Bill Henrich, Tony Prats.
EIGHTH Row. L. to R. Manager Bob Sokoloff, Manager Bob Pollsen, Mnager Bob Deni, Jim Kron, Jim Hanson, Jeff Rhoad, Herb Blair, Jack Lowery, Flip Ferry, Blaine Donofry. .

In 1970, the Springfield Spartans of Montgomery County fielded an extraordinary gridiron team. The smallish suburban Philadelphia school, with 25 returning lettermen, romped through a ten-game schedule and scored 497 points, an average of nearly 50 per game. The Suburban One League championship race was no contest.
Coach Al Black's masterpiece had experience, speed, intelligence and enthusiasm that translated to a blazing offense and a stifling opportunistic defense. Opponents' mistakes were quickly converted into points. Black summed it all when he said, "Hustle and good execution win games. When you combine them with talent, you can't help but have a great season."
Despite its modest enrollment, Springfield had moved from the less challenging Bux-Mont League, after winning the 1968 crown, into the powerful Suburban One to play many of the biggest schools in the area.
After erasing neighbor Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Black's "Big Blue Brigade" faced Upper Merion in their fourth 1970 game. UM was thought before the season to be Springfield's toughest rival. The Spartans won 58-8. Amazing halfback Paul Melzer shredded the Vikings' defense for 319 yards and four TD's. With guard Bruce Williams leading the way, Melzer was sensational all season and was named to the All-State first unit.
The following week against non-league Lower Moreland, deep Springfield dressed 72 players and Black got all of them into the game, a 48-29 romp. The Spartans led 48-8 at the half. Decisive victories followed over defending champion Abington and hopeful Norristown.
Abington dominated the first quarter, had the Spartans on their heels, and led 3-0. The Spartans quickly got the message and blitzed the Ghosts for 26 points in the second quarter and 21 more in the third. No seniors played in the final period as Springfield won 54-3
In the finale of this glorious season, long before the playoffs were introduced, Springfield overwhelmed Thanksgiving rival Wissahickon, 55-30. The Spartans scored on dives, sweeps, reverses, and long and short passes. Black also employed "junk" plays, as he called them. A double reverse pass went for 16 yards and a touchdown
Springfield had gained more than 500 yards in every game. The highest scoring team in the nation, the Spartans were nominated by the Philadelphia Inquirer as the best in the state. A championship game against WPIAL AA champion Mt. Lebanon or New Castle's great team would have been something to behold.
Al Black is a native of Northfield, New Jersey and graduate of Glassboro State, now Rowan. Glassboro had dropped football and Black played in the semi-pro ranks during his college years. He started his career as an assistant at Audubon, NJ. He was head coach at Springfield just five years, moving to Coatesville in 1971. Black coached the Red Raiders for 13 years, winning seven Ches-Mont titles.

An attacking specialist, Black later served as offensive coordinator at Widener, Millersville and Delaware Valley. More recently, he has worked in various levels of professional football in Europe, coaching, holding clinics and consulting. In 2003, his London Olympians won the "Brit Bowl".

1970 Springfield's prolific first team offense included:
E 80 Rich HOLMES 6-3 185
T 78 Rich ACIERNO 5-10 180
G 79 Steve CARUSO 5-10 165
C 55 Joe LYNCH 5-11 218
G 63 Bruce WILLIAMS 5-9 155
T 62 Rick GEHLHAUS 6-0 180
E 22 Glenn SALO 5-8 158
Q 12 Gary HENDERSON 6-1 160
B 25 Paul MELZER 5-9 168
B 49 Pete RAMBO 5-8 145
B 32 John WITSCH 5-9 182

The starting Spartan defenders at season's end were:
T 70 George ALLEN 6-1 175
G 73 Glen HOLMES 5-9 158
G 68 Chuck WHITEHEAD 5-11 195
T 75 Don FLOYD 5-10 195
B 35 Steve FRITH 6-1 185
B 34 Bob NEELY 6-0 184
L 50 Mike HAGGERTY 5-9 155
B 89 Ted O'HANLON 5-10 155
B 84 Jim SELSOR 6-2 168
B 81 Bob ELGIN 6-1 165
B 15 Ken O'BRIEN 5-10 156

10 Bruce ANDERSON provided quarterback relief. 43 Bob HULTBERG was expected to start at halfback, ahead of Melzer - but he went down early with a season-ending injury. Selsor and Frith at end and Neely at running back aided the offense on many occasions. Most of Black's players were interchangeable and performed well on both sides of the ball. The Spartans didn't punt often, but Neely averaged well over 40 yards. Four others were effective punters. Witsch handled the extra points.

Springfield, while talented, lacked Division 1 prospects. Many on Black's team excelled at smaller schools. For example, safety O'Brien was a four-year starter for Widener at quarterback.

The Spartans' stunning 1970 record:

55 UPPER MORELAND 20
42 UPPER DUBLIN 27
41 PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH 12
58 UPPER MERION 8
48 LOWER MORELAND 29
56 CHELTENHAM 0
46 METHACTON 8
54 ABINGTON 3
42 NORRISTOWN 22
55 WISSAHICKON 30