High school football: Cloverleaf gives up kick return TD, then clamps down on Keystone

WESTFIELD TWP. — The Cloverleaf football team's special teams more than made up for a slow start. The Colts gave up an 88-yard kick return touchdown to Keystone's Wyatt McKee in the first 14 seconds but finished by putting up 16 points on special teams in a 22-6 non-conference win Friday evening. "I take the blame on that first kickoff," said Cloverleaf kicker Austin Sustersic, who rebounded after the opening kick to score 10 points. "Our game plan was just not to kick to (McKee), but special teams really play a role. Three points is half a touchdown and even PATs, you have to get every point that's available." It wasn't just the special teams that got rolling for Cloverleaf (1-1). The defense held Keystone to 54 yards and three first downs and the Wildcats also lost two fumbles. Keystone (1-1) was limited to just one first down in the second half — on the third play — but punted four plays later and went three-and-out on its final three drives. "We talked all offseason about just playing fast and flying to the ball," Cloverleaf coach Justin Vorhies said. "Just trusting our keys and flying to the ball. Last week we didn't do that; this week they definitely did that. They showed how fast we can be. We want to be the fastest defense on the field." Cloverleaf also piled up 215 rushing yards, with running back Ethan Gray accounting for 92 yards on 17 carries and quarterback Isaac Smith putting up 82 yards on 18 touches. The only blemishes offensively were a pair of interceptions by Smith, one of which came in the end zone as the Colts were about to cap an impressive drive to start the second half. The Colts overcame both turnovers by capitalizing on a number of Keystone miscues. An offsides infraction gave Cloverleaf fourth-and-1 from the 3-yard line. Smith converted with a 2-yard run, then scored the Colts' only offensive touchdown. Sustersic's extra point attempt was blocked, but he accounted for six points in the first half with field goals from 30 and 41 yards. He added a 20-yard field goal and an extra point in the second half. "There's some experience there because you have to just relax," Sustersic said of his 41-yard make. "Don't worry about the snap, don't worry about the hold. You've just got to kick it." The special teams iced the game with 9:32 left in the fourth quarter when a high snap by the Keystone punt unit rolled into the end zone and Jimmy Tolley fell on it. Tolley also blocked a punt in the third quarter that led to Sustersic's third field goal. "It makes or breaks a game," Tolley said. "That set of guys on special teams were the reason why we won that game. Everyone was doing their job, everyone was doing their role and sticking to the game plan that coaches gave us. We just stayed with it and we did it as a team. That's the most important part." Contact Chris Sweeney at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on X. Cloverleaf 22, Keystone 6 KEYSTONE &emsp;&emsp;6 0 0 0 — 6 CLOVERLEAF&emsp;&emsp;3 9 0 10 — 22 First K — Wyatt McKee 88 kickoff return (kick failed), 11:46. C — Austin Sustersic 30 field goal, 6:06. Second C — Isaac Smith 1 run (kick failed), 9:56. C — Sustersic 41 field goal, 2:27. Fourth C — Sustersic 20 field goal, 11:12. C — Jimmy Tolley fumble recovery (Sustersic kick), 9:32. &emsp;&emsp;K &emsp;&emsp;C First downs &emsp;&emsp;3 &emsp;&emsp;16 Rushing &emsp;&emsp;19/41 50/215 Rushing average &emsp;&emsp;4.1 &emsp;&emsp;4.3 Passing &emsp;&emsp;4/13 &emsp;&emsp;8/12 Passing yards &emsp;&emsp;18 &emsp;&emsp;72 Total offense &emsp;&emsp;32/59 62/287 Punting &emsp;&emsp;4/36.3 1/12.0 Penalties &emsp;&emsp;7/50 &emsp;&emsp;4/35 Fumbles &emsp;&emsp;2/2 &emsp;&emsp;2/0 RUSHING: Keystone — Colton Cowling 7-23, McKee 10-17, Zach Taylor 1-1, Bobby Gurich 1-0. Cloverleaf — Ethan Gray 17-92, Smith 18-82, Kellen Price 9-28, Ashton Gray 6-13. PASSING: Keystone — Cowling 4-13-18-0. Cloverleaf — Smith 8-12-72-2. RECEIVING: Keystone — Brendan Hagerman 2-16, McKee 1-4, Garrett Wiester 1-(-2). Cloverleaf — Jimmy Tolley 1-25, Beier 2-24, Price 3-16, A. Gray 1-6, E. Gray 1-1.