Ezell’s Field Goal Lifts Hill School Past Kiski School 16-14
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Shane Lux | September 7, 2025
Saltsburg – London Ezell’s 30-yard field goal with 12 seconds left lifted Hill School to a dramatic 16-14 victory over Kiski School.
With only 1:09 on the clock and starting at your 25-yard line, down by a point isn’t exactly the position any team wants to be in. When it mattered most, the Hill School found a way to make it happen.
“We are a thin team, and we got thinner by the end of the game, but our guys fought to the end and made a big kick there to win it. But it was a huge team win for us,” said Hill School head coach Mike Boyer. “I’m really proud of our guys, how they fought for four quarters.”
The Hill School got things started with a bang as quarterback Julian Matera connected with London Ezell for a 45-yard pass play, setting up the Rams at their Cougars’ 30-yard line.
Five plays later, Ezell lined up for a 30-yard field goal on third down with 18 seconds to play.
With ice water in his veins, Ezell drilled the game-winning kick with 12 seconds remaining, propelling Hill School to victory in its season opener.
“Honestly, it’s my first time playing football. I want to cry right now,” Ezell said. “I’m so happy. Everybody out there. My whole team, our whole squad, put our team on our backs. We put our school on our backs and fought out there, so I’m just proud of us. I was on the sideline when it was time to go. They told me I’m in before the field goal. They put me in for the last two minutes. I made a play because I felt bad. I missed two earlier, and then when it was time for the field goal, I’m usually a little iffy on the half on the hashes.”
Not too bad a debut for a kid that had never played football before.
“We had one time out. We had 75 yards to go, and we had a chance, and that’s all we needed,” Boyer said. “Our quarterback did a great job, moving around in the pocket, getting out of the pocket, hitting guys, getting a big catch with a kid who has never played football before, came out to kick for us. We ran down the field, catching passes, and did a nice job with that.”
Earlier in the contest, Ezell had misfired on 39 and 40-yard field goal attempts, but they say the third time is a charm. Perhaps it’s more than just a cliche.
“I missed two earlier. I can’t miss another one for my team,” said Ezell. “Too many people got hurt, too many people fighting too hard. I can’t miss. I couldn’t bear the thought of letting us down, so I was overjoyed when it went through.”
The scoring drive came moments after Kiski School went on a 9-play 78-yard drive capped off by Levi Porter’s 9-yard touchdown run with 1:14 to play. Lewin Tauberschmidt’s extra point gave the Cougars the advantage.
Porter’s touchdown run had given Kiski School its only lead of the night.
“Our guys did an excellent job at sticking through it,” said Kiski head coach Aaron Smetanka. “They kept coming back playing physical up front. The offensive line did an outstanding job putting a good drive together. Great job with those guys. Our players did an excellent job in punching that in and getting off the lead.”
On their first drive of the second half, Hill School broke a 7-7 stalemate when Julian Matera and Nick Cobb connected on their second touchdown pass of the night from 16 yards at the 5:40 mark of the third stanza following a 6-play 81-yard drive.
The duo opened the scoring late in the first quarter when they hooked up on a 74-yard touchdown pass on a broken coverage where Cobb was left all alone for an easy score down the far sideline.
Both players had big games for the Hill School as Julian Matera completed 13 of 26 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 59 yards on the ground. Nick Cobb caught a game-high seven passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
Kiski School had tied the game at seven early in the second quarter when Maxamillion McMillan scored on a 6-yard run, capping off a 12-play 80-yard drive.
The Cougars will now look to rebound next Saturday when they host St. James School.
“We left a lot on the field, Smetanka said. ” We want to make sure we come back. We need to correct that; it was in all three phases that we saw some issues. So we need to remove those elements and maintain a strong game throughout.”
The Hill School will prepare for a short week as they host Episcopal Academy next Friday night at Madden Stadium.
“I think it keeps everybody involved. When your numbers are low and you have guys banged up, you know you can go the other way,” concluded Boyer. “But coming back in, winning this game, and knowing that, hey, we can fight to the end. Just keep working hard at all the things you preach as the coach. You do the right things, and it goes a long way with our guys. We’ve got terrific kids here. Hill School has a tremendous group of young men, and we’re certainly proud of all of them. I think this helps them really gel and galvanize with one another.”
Game Highlights:
Hill School 16 Kiski School 14
Score by Quarters
Hill School – 7 0 6 3 – 16
Kiski School – 0 7 0 7 – 14
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
H – Nick Cobb 74 yd pass from Julian Matera, (London Ezell pat), 2:00 – 4-82
Second Quarter
K – Maxamillion McMillan 6 yd run, (Lewin Tauberschmidt pat), 9:14 – 12-80
Third Quarter
H – Cobb 16 yd pass from Julian Matera, (kick failed), 5:40 – 6-81
Fourth Quarter
K – Levi Porter 9 yd run, (Tauberschmidt pat), 1:14 – 9-78
H – Ezell 30 yd field goal, 0:12 – 6-62
Individual Stats
Rushing: H – Matera 13-59, Ethan Ramos 12-25, Chase McCusker 3-7, Barkley Reid 3-1. Totals: 31-92. K – McMillian 14-61, Elijah White 5-20, Mason Jones 7-76, Porter 10-53, Jaivin Peel 5-30. Totals: 19-74.
Receiving: H – McCusker 4-75, Cobb 7-129, Gavin Rushin 1-37, Ezell 1-45. K – Sergio Dubois 3-18, Hunter Richardson 1-6, Jones 1-(-2), Elan McCrorey 1-13, White 1-14, Tauberschmidt 1-14.
Passing: H – Matera 13 for 26, 286 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. K – Peel 8-for-21, 63 yards, 2 INT.
Interceptions: H – Nate Govan II, Cobb. K – Elan McCrorey.
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