By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
LYFORD — Lyford quarterback Cayleb Klostermann wasn’t sure what his senior season was going to be like, or if it would happen at all.
Not only was there uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, but Klostermann also “didn’t know what to expect” from himself as he returned from an injury that ended his junior year on the first play of the season. Bulldogs coach Israel Gonzalez said Klostermann handled the adversity well and the team rallied around its leader, resulting in a big season for the senior.
Klostermann led a prolific Lyford offense that averaged 39.5 points per game as the Bulldogs finished 6-2 and reached the second round of the playoffs. He accumulated 1,776 passing yards, 639 rushing yards and scored 19 total touchdowns. Klostermann is the Valley Morning Star’s All-STAR football offensive player of the year.
“There’s hundreds of other guys out there, and to get recognized for my hard work and my team’s hard work, because it’s really a team award because I couldn’t do it without everyone else, feels good,” Klostermann said. “I wouldn’t have had (this year) any other way. It was probably the most fun season I’ve ever had. Everybody bought in, everybody showed up and showed out, and that’s not easy to do with the way things were.”
Any doubts Klostermann had were erased after Lyford’s first game against Premont. He reminisced about a play in which he spun away from pressure and launched the ball downfield, resulting in a long touchdown. He said that was his “big play” that let him know he was back, and things just got better from there.
Klostermann paid extra attention to his passing game during each offseason, and his determination was on display this season. He was more comfortable in the pocket and more aware on the field, which helped him toss 17 passing touchdowns in seven games played. Klostermann and Gonzalez said maturity and a heightened football IQ played a big role in the strides the quarterback made his senior year.
“My sophomore year, I had problems throwing the ball, so I had to resort to running a lot. That was my focus, to get better at throwing the ball,” Klostermann said. “Seeing those passing stats and a decrease in rushing yards, I take that as a good sign that I became a more polished passer. I’m proud of that.”
Gonzalez praised the work ethic and resilience Klostermann displayed throughout his career. From getting “thrown into the fire” as a sophomore tasked with a last-minute quarterback role to working his way back from injury more than once, Gonzalez called Klostermann the epitome of “mental toughness and being able to stick with it when things get tough.”
“We’re super proud of the fact that he’s getting this award,” Gonzalez said. “He was a playmaker. We knew if a play broke down, Cayleb was going to make something happen. … For him to come back the next week (after being injured in the bi-district playoff game), play against the No. 7 team in the state and throw for 388 yards on a bum ankle, that’s Cayleb Klostermann. That’s the mentality he has, the work ethic he has and really the determination that he shows on a daily basis.”
Klostermann said this season, the senior class was playing for the coaching staff. The class was Gonzalez’s first when he took over the program, and Klostermann said he often told the group “a coach is judged by how the class he came in with goes out,” and the quarterback’s class went out strong. Gonzalez said the group will always hold a special place in his heart.
Klostermann expressed gratitude for the coaching staff making him a better player and person, and he thanked his teammates and loyal family for being with him every step of the way.
“It’s fun to finish with the guys you grew up playing with. We had a bunch of dogs in our senior class. I always asked the most out of them, and they came through,” Klostermann said. “The underclassmen played for us, and you could see it. My parents, my grandparents, my whole family, they never missed a game, and it’s a good feeling knowing you have support coming from everywhere. It really helps you excel.”