High school football: New-look defense helps Cloverleaf shut out Coventry

The development of a new-look defense has been a major storyline for the Cloverleaf football team, and the Colts needed every bit of a team effort on that side of the ball to defeat Coventry 19-0 Friday in an ugly Metro Athletic Conference game that featured a combined 21 penalties for 200 yards. Cloverleaf (4-1, 2-0) held the Comets (1-4, 0-2) to a mere 82 yards total offense, got a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown from Brayden Beier, saw Jimmy Tolley recover his Medina County-leading fifth fumble and used an Ethan Gray pick near the red zone in a 7-0 game to finally put together a sustained drive that ended in much-needed breathing room. The Colts had four tackles on the first six Coventry plays from scrimmage en route to finishing with nine overall, including two sacks. Beier, Adam Gray, Ashton Gray, David Hunter, Austin Sprankle, Elliot Jordan and beefy nose tackle Jamere Johnson, who was making his season debut after missing four games with a broken elbow, factored into those TFLs, while Hunter forced the fumble that was recovered by Tolley on the Cloverleaf 36-yard line in the first half. With Cloverleaf's offense sputtering badly against a much-improved Comets defense, Beier finally broke the ice late in the first half. On second-and-9 from the Cloverleaf 32-yard line, Coventry quarterback Brad Little felt back-side pressure from a blitzing Tolley and attempted to fire a ball to Jaydon Stover off his back foot, but Beier cut off the route and rumbled 69 yards untouched to give Cloverleaf a 7-0 lead with 3:53 left before halftime. The Colts, who had one first down in the first half, still couldn't move the ball early in the third quarter. The Comets again drove into Cloverleaf territory and eventually faced third-and-12 from the 22-yard line. Little faked a handoff to bruising tailback Lamar Taylor and rolled right before throwing to Stover in the flat, but Ethan Gray cut off the ball and got a foot down inbounds along the home sideline to stop the threat. Cloverleaf finally found life on offense, culminating with a 1-yard Ethan Gray run to make the score 13-0 with 3:49 left in the third quarter. The Colts defense held firm, and running back Kellen Price keyed a drive into the red zone. Quarterback Isaac Smith rolled left on third-and-goal from the 7, then lofted a pass across his body and over two defenders into Ashton Gray's arms to cap the scoring with 11:08 to go. Cloverleaf again got a stop and the offense chewed the final 8:16 off the clock before taking three knees inside the red zone. Kellen Price was outstanding in the second half, as an aggressive Comets defense struggled to find the 5-foot-7, 170-pounder in the box. The junior finished with 115 yards on 15 carries and was followed by Ethan Gray (8 carries, 52 yards) and Smith (8, 38), who also completed 4-of-11 passes for 43 yards. Taylor carried the Comets, as he rushed 26 times for 96 yards before taking a backseat when Coventry was forced to pass in the fourth quarter. The rest of the Comets combined for minus-19 yards on 12 carries and completed only 1-of-7 passes for 5 yards. Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. Cloverleaf 19, Coventry 0 CLOVERLEAF &emsp;&emsp;0 7 6 6 — 19 COVENTRY &emsp;&emsp;0 0 0 0 — 0 Second Cl — Brayden Beier 69 interception return (Austin Sustersic kick), 3:53. Third Cl — Ethan Gray 1 run (kick blocked), 3:49. Fourth Cl — Ashton Gray 7 pass from Isaac Smith (kick failed), 11:08. &emsp;&emsp;Cl &emsp;&emsp;Co First downs &emsp;&emsp;12 &emsp;&emsp;5 Rushing &emsp;&emsp;37/214&emsp;&emsp;38/77 Rushing average &emsp;&emsp;5.8 &emsp;&emsp;2.0 Passing &emsp;&emsp;4/11 &emsp;&emsp;1/7 Passing yards &emsp;&emsp;43 &emsp;&emsp;5 Total offense &emsp;&emsp;48/257&emsp;&emsp;45/82 Punting &emsp;&emsp;2/39.5 4/43.0 Penalties &emsp;&emsp;10/95 11/105 Fumbles &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;1/0 &emsp;&emsp;3/1 RUSHING: Cloverleaf — Kellen Price 15-115, E. Gray 8-52, Smith 8-38, A. Gray 2-10, Marzell Davis 1-2, Team 3-(-3). Coventry — Lamar Taylor 26-96, Brady McCracken 1-1, Jaydon Stover 1-(-2), Evan Owen 2-(-4), Brad Little 8-(-14). PASSING: Cloverleaf — Smith 4-11-43-0. Coventry — Little 1-7-5-2. RECEIVING: Cloverleaf — Jimmy Tolley 3-36, A. Gray 1-7. Coventry — Stover 1-5.