It is said that there are many keys to being successful.

But for the Springville High School football team, there is only one Key that it needs and that Key is in the form of senior running back Alema Key.

Key provided the spark for the Springville offense, as he led the Red Devils to a 35-14 victory over the visiting Sky View Bobcats in the 4A state tournament Friday.

"He's (Key) started to get comfortable with what we're doing, plus he's healthy," Springville head coach Scott Mitchell said. "He's kind of stepped up his play in the playoffs, he's been there before and understands it, so it's good to see."

Key put the Red Devils up 7-0 with just over a minute left in the first quarter after he found the endzone from 13-yards out for the first of his three touchdowns.

"It's a team effort," Key said. "Our O-line is amazing, and all our receivers were blocking up field. It's a team effort. I can't do it all by myself."

The Red Devils, who entered the playoffs as the Region 8 first place team, will now face the Woods Cross Wildcats a second round matchup.

"We're going to have to play the same way and have the same intensity and listen to our coaches." Key said of advancing to the next round.

The Red Devils extended their lead in the second quarter after quarterback Steve Bate found wide receiver Jordan Sumsion on a 16-yard pass that put Springville up 14-0.

The Red Devils are known for airing out the ball, but got the job done on the ground as well Friday afternoon.

"We're a throwing team, and to be able to come out and run the ball like we did and be successful was a good thing for us." Mitchell added.

Back-to-back Springville penalties put the Bobcats deep in Red Devils territory mid-way through the second quarter.

The Red Devils were still able to win handedly, despite committing 19 turnovers in the contest.

"I didn't realize we had that many penalties," Mitchell said. "I think that's a credit to how we matured as a team and we're able to not let things get us down."

Sky View took advantage of the Springville wrongdoings and cut the Red Devils lead in half after quarterback Kyler Carlsen barreled over Springville defenders and found the endzone from seven yards out.

But Springville responded on its next offensive possession with an eight play scoring drive--capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Bate to Key with 49.7 second left in the second quarter that put Springville up 21-7.

Sky View marched down the field and appeared poised for a field goal attempt with 1.7 seconds left, but the Red Devils got a hand on the ball and batted it right into the arms of Taylor Baker.

Baker eluded Sky View tacklers and took the ball 89-yards for a touchdown to end the first half and put the Red Devils up 28-7 at the break.

"That's a ten point swing for you right there," Mitchell said. "That's a huge play going into half especially when we came out and they had the ball to start in the third quarter. There's no question that was a big momentum swing for us."

Sky View scored on its first possession of the second half to cut the lead to 28-14, but the Red Devils answered when Key scampered in from 23-yards out to put the Red Devils up 35-14.

The Red Devils will welcome Wood Cross to Springville next Friday after the Wildcats defeated Provo 35-20 in first round action.

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