HOMESTEAD -- As the Key West High football team traveled to Homestead for Friday night's regular-season opener against the 6A Broncos, Conchs coach Jerry Hughes said he got a sign that something good was in store.

For the first time since Hughes returned to Key West three years ago, two players -- Clinton McCoy and Johnny Louis -- took it upon themselves to get up on the bus and lead their teammates through final game-plan preparations.

"That to me was a sign that they were getting ready to play," Hughes said.

A few hours later, the Conchs confirmed their coach's suspicion.

Key West played lights-out defense, came up with a huge play on special teams and did just enough on offense en route to a 14-12 victory over the host Broncos.

"Our kids just played their hearts out," Hughes said. "We knew we were going to out-condition them in the second half, and that's what beat them. They're much bigger, much more physical and they've got nine Division I players on that team. It just goes to show that not everything is about size."

The Conchs (1-0) trailed 12-7 late in the third, before St. Pierre Anilus and Christian Stewart combined for the play of the game. Anilus blocked a punt attempt by the Broncos, who were backed up near their own goal line, and Stewart jumped on the loose ball in the end zone to give Key West its first lead since the first quarter and the deciding score in the game.

"I saw it rolling," Stewart said of the ball on the play. "I was just thinking, 'I got to get this. I got to get it.'"

He did, and the Conchs defense held strong for the remainder of the game, coming up with big stops whenever they needed them to hold on for the victory.

"We were just looking to come after them," Key West defensive line coach Paul Valero said of the defensive unit. "We had been pressuring them all night. That's what we are and that's what we tend to do, so we just played to what our strengths are."

The Conchs jumped out to a quick lead in the first after Scott McKenzie recovered a fumble on Homestead's first possession. The Conchs drove 30 yards downfield and Clive Georges made the Broncos pay for the miscue with a 2-yard touchdown run on an option toss.

Early in the second, Homestead defensive lineman Ricardo Williams blocked a Key West punt to give his team a first-and-goal at the 9-yard line. Broncos quarterback Herbert Williams capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down, but the Broncos missed the point-after. Williams added a 10-yard touchdown run later in the second, but the team failed on a 2-point try, which gave Homestead a 12-7 lead at the half.

Hughes said he wasn't surprised by his defense's impressive performance against the bigger Homestead line.

"With the scheme that coach Valero has, we have all the confidence in our defense," he said. "We can't block them in practice, so we know they're going to create a lot of problems for a lot of people."

Key West quarterback Matteo Gazzale finished 7-for-12 passing for 66 yards, 26 of them to Georges, who made two catches. NaQuan McNeill led the Conchs' rushing attack with 73 yards on 12 carries.

Defensively, Stewart had two sacks, while Anilus and Louis each finished with one. Each team lost one fumble for the lone turnovers.

"We didn't get the takeaways that we wanted," Valero said. "I think there were some opportunities there that were missed, but they're a good football team. We should've played better, but anytime you get one more point than the other team, it's a great day."

Key West will look to improve to 2-0 next Friday night back at home against Coral Shores. Hughes said the win over Homestead should give his team great momentum moving forward.

"This is probably one of the biggest wins Key West has had on the road in a long time," he said. "This is a big confidence-builder."

wjacobson@keysnews.com