It was a slugfest between No. 4 West Holmes (9-2, 6-1) and No. 13 Bryan (5-6, 3-4) in the opening round of the Division IV, Region 14 football tournament, and Morgan Smith threw seven touchdown passes and ran for two in a 70-50 playoff victory for the Knights
With 10:06 on the clock in the first quarter, Smith found Kyle Martarich on a screen pass. The shifty, talented Yale committed receiver followed his blockers and then found open space on the sideline. He juked several defenders, crossed the field and found his way into the end zone on a fantastic 63-yard score. They scored again after a squib kick was misplayed at the three-yard line. Smith took it in himself for a touchdown run.
It was a 14-14 tie game after one quarter, but the Knights outscored the Golden Bears in the second quarter 28-14, making it a 42-28 game at the half.
With 10:49 left in the second quarter, Smith put West Holmes up 21-14 on a two-yard touchdown run. With 6:30 left in the half, Smith hit Maltarich for his second touchdown pass from eight yards out, making it 28-14. Bryan scored with 4:14 left in the quarter, but the Knights responded with another touchdown at the 1:09 mark when Smith connected with Nate Fair for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Bryan scored with 53 seconds to go in the half, but West Holmes got back on the board again huge 94-yard kickoff return by sophomore Lynn Cline.
West Holmes outscored Bryan 14-8 in the third. At the beginning of the third quarter Smith connected with Cline who weaved his way around defenders, found daylight and scored from 36 yards out. The Knights scored again with 2:26 left on yet another touchdown catch by Maltarich from Smith, this one going for 29 yards.
Both teams scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. With 9:52 on the clock, Smith found Malatarich again on a short pass. Maltarich stiff armed, shifted, hopped over and dragged tacklers for the 31-yard score. With 4:14 on the clock, Smith hit Fair for the second time for a wide open touchdown catch for 20-yards.
Smith was 26-for-35 for 404 yards and seven passing touchdowns, which tied the school record for touchdown passes in a game. He now has 41 passing touchdowns this year. Smith also had 59 yards on the ground and two touchdown runs, giving him 15 rushing touchdowns on the season.
He connected on touchdown passes with Maltarich four times, twice with Fair and once with Cline. Smith has been tremendous throwing the ball this season, and especially true the last two games as he had six touchdowns in his final regular season as well.
Grant Miller and Elijah Williams Dickson each had a sack. Logan Zollars recovered a fumble for the Knights, but was injured in the game.
West Holmes had 31 carries for 141 yards as a team. The Knights had a 545-395 yard advantage in the game.
The Knights have outscored opponents 461-283 this season. West Holmes has not lost a game at home since Nov. 1, 2019 against Mount Vernon. They are 6-0 at home this season.
West Holmes will take on No. 5 Galion (8-3, 4-3) on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the regional quarterfinal game.
