Keystone Wildcats Secure Key Win, Control Playoff Destiny

The Keystone Wildcats moved closer to securing a spot in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) playoffs with a decisive 33-24 victory over the Firelands Falcons on October 17, 2023. This win positions the Wildcats one step away from playoff qualification, a significant achievement in what has been a fluctuating season for the team.

Keystone’s coach, Don Griswold, expressed the importance of having control over their playoff fate. He stated, “That is what you want in life. You want to be able to have options and be in control of your own destiny in all aspects of your life. To have that as a football team in a really competitive region is a blessing.”

The Wildcats faced challenges throughout the season, including a tough 21-7 loss to the Columbia Raiders in Week 8. This prompted Griswold to test the team’s resilience against Firelands. Keystone started strong, taking an early 7-0 lead. However, the Falcons responded with three unanswered scoring drives, taking a 16-7 lead, putting Keystone in a challenging two-possession game situation.

Quarterback Colt Cowling played a pivotal role in the comeback, throwing two touchdown passes. Additionally, Wyatt McKee delivered an impressive performance, racking up 173 yards and scoring three touchdowns, allowing Keystone to reclaim the lead at 20-16 before halftime. From that moment, the Wildcats maintained their momentum, securing the victory.

“I am really proud of how we responded after the Columbia game,” Griswold remarked. “We kept getting better and better. The players did not feel sorry for themselves, did not mope or do any of those things. This was our first quality win of the year. We beat the teams that we should have beaten and lost our toss-up games. This is a quality win that is going to propel us forward, not just for Week 10, but for seasons to come.”

With the win, Keystone improved its record to 6-3 overall, including a strong 5-1 in the Lake County 8 (LC8) conference. The Columbia Raiders also hold a 5-1 league record after losing to Clearview 27-21. However, Columbia wins the tie-breaker based on their head-to-head victory against Keystone earlier in the season.

As the season approaches its conclusion, the standings in LC8 are tight. Firelands, Clearview, and Black River all enter Week 10 with two league losses. If Black River defeats Oberlin, Clearview secures a win against Keystone, and Firelands wins against Columbia, five teams—including Columbia, Clearview, Keystone, Firelands, and Black River—will finish the season with 4-2 records in the LC8.

In the final week of the regular season, the Wildcats will be looking to secure their playoff berth while navigating the competitive landscape of their conference. The outcome of the upcoming matches will determine their path forward.