Everything clicking for Knights football
After starting the season 2-2, the West Holmes football team reeled off six consecutive wins to end the regular season with an 8-2 record.
That strong finish helped the Knights earn their fourth consecutive postseason berth and the fourth seed in Division IV, Region 14. They opened the playoffs against No. 13 Bryan on Oct. 27.
West Holmes finished the regular season unbeaten each of the past two seasons, so its 2-2 start to this season had some outsiders questioning whether the program was about to take a step back. For those inside the program, though, there was never any concern.
“(The six consecutive wins to end the regular season) tells us that we’re selfless, that we’re tough,” Knights coach Zach Gardner said. “(It tells us) we give great effort and we’re a football family. Shame on you if you doubted the West Holmes Knights and our ability to establish the proper culture and for our kids to battle through and do what they need to do to get to where we’re at.”
This year’s playoff berth is the 10th in program history and fifth since 2018. West Holmes has advanced to at least the regional semifinals each of the past three seasons.
Home cooking
It would be an understatement to say West Holmes has been successful at Knights Stadium in recent years. The Knights have won 23 consecutive games on their home field, so securing two home playoff games — if they win their first one — is a big advantage for them.
“The draw of the tournament is important,” Gardner said. “Our resume speaks for itself to get two home games, and it’s going to be up to us to survive and advance every week. The last time we lost around here was 2019, so we know how important it is to get those home playoff games and make those teams hop on those Twinkies and come here and play us in our environment.”
West Holmes has had lengthy postseason runs each of the past three seasons, so everyone in the program knows what it takes to win playoff games.
“Our kids know what to expect,” Gardner said. “Our kids know the effort that you need to put in. They know everything that you need to do to be able to do the things you need to do.”
Rounding into form
West Holmes ended the regular season with a 62-0 beatdown of Mount Vernon on Oct. 20. It was the third consecutive game the Knights defense limited its opponent to eight points or less.
With the way the defense has been playing in recent weeks and the success the offense has had all season, WH is primed for another lengthy playoff run.
“I think the sky is the limit for this team,” Gardner said. “I think we have a lot of avenues to victory, whether it’s playing good defense, playing good special teams or playing our offense. I don’t think we’ve scratched the surface yet of what this team is capable of.”
