So far, so good. With Kline as boss, Springfield is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Central League entering Friday night's contest at Haverford High.
Of being the players' No. 1 choice, Kline said, "Something like that happening makes everything you do as a coach worthwhile. You know you're making an impact on the kids."
Kline coached under Ellis for three seasons. The 39-year-old admits to considering leaving the Cougars and joining Ellis, his close friend, at W.C. East. "I had to step back and think of what I really wanted to do," he said.
In taking the Springfield job, Kline wasn't overly concerned about the team losing Matt Craig, who rushed for 2,013 yards and scored 35 touchdowns in 2010, from a squad that went 8-4 and advanced to the PIAA District 1 Class AAA semifinals before losing to Strath Haven.
"I was confident that we were going to pick up where we left off," said Kline, a health and physical education teacher at Lower Merion High. "We're fortunate to have a lot of depth."
The 6-foot, 170-pound Strain, a second-year starter, has completed 16 of 33 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns.
"He's the ultimate competitor," Kline said. "I have no reservation about putting the team on his shoulders."
In a spread offense averaging nearly 35 points, Springfield's three-pronged rushing attack is headed by halfback Rob Murphy. The 5-9, 165-pound junior has carried 49 times for 514 yards and six touchdowns.
"Matt Craig was a great running back," Strain said. "But I knew Rob was going to do well. He's quick, crafty, and he works real hard."
Last season, with Ellis regularly using a no-huddle approach, the Cougars averaged 48 points. They scored 50 or more points four times.
Said Kline: "It was a real fast tempo. We wanted to try to run 70 plays a game. I'm more of a clock-management guy. I'm only concerned with the final score."
