The West Holmes Knights are a local football power-house. The two-time defending, undisputed champion was also co-champ in 2020, and are looking for a full three-peat.
Knights football coach Zach Gardner had the team ready for its season opener Aug. 18 against Triway, and after jumping out to a 27-7 first quarter lead, West Holmes coasted to a 41-7 win and their 22nd consecutive regular season victory, to tie a school record.
Last season, the Knights went 6-0 in the OCC and finished their second consecutive undefeated regular season. They were 12-0 going into their final playoff game against Van Wert, who entered the game at 11-1. The Cougars won 40-35 despite a Knights comeback from being down 27-14 at the half to taking the lead at 35-34 with five minutes to play. The Cougars took it home with a score in the closing minutes.
Entering the season with a 21-game, now 22-game regular season winning streak, and losing a tight one in the playoffs, has only served to motivate Coach Gardner’s team to win it all this year.
Gardner, who was who was the winningest coach in the history of the Sandy Valley Cardinals after four years as head coach of the Inter-Valley Conference team, took over the Knights’ program in 2017. After six years directing on the sidelines, Gardner’s Knights have gone 47-22 including 26-2 the last two years.
The dynastic Knights will have to overcome some big losses in personnel this year to maintain their place at the top. The Knights lost 15 players to graduation, including all-OCC first team honorees QB Mason Wolfe, DL Collin Gardner, Owen Jeffries and NG Korben Felton. All-OCC second teamers G/C Landon Dye and DB/WR Zevin Proper also graduated.
They still retained a core of skilled veterans including all-OCC first team selections RB Sam Williams-Dixon and MLB/WR Jack Marmet and second-team honorees Nate Fair, T/DE Morgan Eastep, RB Elijah Williams-Dixon and WR Logan Zollars. Earning Honorable Mention status last year and returning are Gus Warner, MLB/RB Mason Shankel and T Gage Brown.
Gardner has his core returning veterans working hard to replace the graduates with intensity … looking to three-peat.
West Holmes starts their 2023 OCC campaign on the road, Friday Sept. 8 at Mansfield at 7 p.m.
