H.S. Football: Kalif Townsel helps Oberlin improve to 3-0

OBERLIN — The Richmond Heights Spartans might have nightmares about Kalif Townsel until the end of the season.
Oberlin’s senior running back rushed for 255 yards and three touchdowns as the Phoenix improved to 3-0 with a 34-20 win.
The 5-foot-10, 225-pounder carried the ball 30 times and found the end zone on runs of 1, 4 and 14 yards while running over outmatched Spartan defenders.
“What can I say about Kalif, he is a hardworking kid and whatever we need from him he always gets it done,” Oberlin coach Fred Howery said.
Townsel, who also delivered a number of big hits from the linebacker position, preferred to give the credit for his career-best effort to his teammates.
“We do this as a team,” Townsel said. “My offensive line, my quarterback, everyone else on the offense and Coach Howery getting us prepared for this game made it all possible.”
Oberlin (3-0) scored on two of its first three possessions. A Jason Moore 9-yard run made it 6-0, followed by Sam Weiss’ extra point. Then Townsel scored the first of his touchdowns on the opening play of the second quarter.
The Spartans (1-2) hung tough into the second half, tying the game at 14 on their first possession of the third quarter when Arthur Christian capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.
The Phoenix answered on its next drive when Moore connected with senior Mattayo Wyman on a 44-yard touchdown pass on third-and-16. That was the first of three big plays Wyman made in the second half.
Midway through the fourth quarter he broke off his route to make a sliding catch of Moore’s desperation third-and-15 heave to keep Oberlin’s final scoring drive alive. Wyman then sealed the win with an interception on Richmond Heights’ next possession.
“Our defense was ready to play tonight and the offense was really able to move the ball,” Wyman said. “We’ve got the momentum going for us now, but everyone is going to be gunning for us now that we are 3-0.”
Wyman is a senior who did not play football the previous two seasons.
“Since I got here I have been trying to get him out for football and this year he finally decided to join us,” Howery said. “He is a very disciplined and intelligent kid.
“Even though he might have been a little bit behind the other players in experience, you only have to show him something once and he gets it. He showed what he could do tonight. He has the talent to play on the next level.”
If the Phoenix hopes to continue its early season success, it will need to cut down on the penalties. Oberlin was flagged 11 times for 95 yards.
“I am a little disappointed in the penalties, but I remind these kids every day that bad things happen in football at every level in every game because both teams are always working hard,” Howery said. “It’s the team who doesn’t hang its head or lose control that winds up on top.”
As a team Oberlin gained 362 yards on the ground and rushed for 18 first downs.
On the Bench: Richmond Heights played without two defensive starters, lineman Sylvester Bailey and linebacker Ousmane Bamba, who were serving one-game suspensions after being ejected from the Week 2 win over Lutheran East.
Contact Todd Shapiro at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.