Holmes overcomes slow start, ‘grinds out’ win over Boone County

Game photos by Brandon Wheeler, LINK nky contributor

With an 8-0 lead in the third quarter, Boone County quarterback Jamarion Hocker gained four yards on an otherwise nondescript play Friday night in Covington. However, his helmet came off, which meant he had to come out for a single play.

Backup Cole Hardy fumbled on the Rebels’ ensuing play and Holmes recovered. The Bulldogs scored 18 unanswered points in the second half on their way to victory.

Each team got off to a sluggish start and the Rebels’ defense swarmed Holmes standout Curtez Hill fielding the low snap on fourth down, but he escaped around the left side out of the end zone until he was taken down out of bounds at the 23-yard line. Averting what could have been a safety, the Bulldogs now had a new set of downs thanks to Hill’s awareness of the first down marker.

But its two plays thereafter, a nine-yard loss on a scramble by quarterback Miguel Garcia, followed by a first down run taken off the board by a holding penalty – signified Holmes’ one step forward, two steps back first half. Near midfield, Garcia’s pass intended for Hill was intercepted by Rebels’ cornerback Kaleb Byndon. In Bulldogs territory to begin its drive as time was ticking away on the second quarter, Hocker was sacked on first down.

The Rebels’ offensive line struggled to protect Hocker all evening as the Holmes defense kept consistent pressure on. But the junior quarterback found receiver Tyler Whipple for 15 yards and a first down and then the Bulldogs line jumped offsides, giving the Rebels an additional five yards.

On first-and-five from the 29, Hocker spotted Elijah Jonathan open, but the pass went through his fingers. He then escaped out of the pocket on second down, finding Whipple open, connecting for a 29-yard touchdown and an 8-0 lead following a successful two-point conversion, in addition to a personal foul facemask penalty on Holmes enabling the Rebels to kickoff in Bulldogs’ territory.

“We said all week long, the way they are successful throwing the ball is when the pocket breaks down and Hocker starts scrambling and the receivers get free a little bit,” Holmes Head Coach Ben Nevels said.

Since Boone had a short field, it elected to try an onside kick, which it recovered after the bouncing football deflected off a Holmes player attempting recovery. With 1:12 remaining and on the Bulldogs’ 35, Boone was unable to cash in on the opportunity, its drive fizzling out at the two-yard line as time expired on the Rebels. To begin the second half, Holmes came out with a purpose.

“Before the game we talked about wanting to protect our home,” Nevels said. “We want to win every game obviously. But when people come into this place that’s our home, we want to defend it with everything we have. We started off a little slow. We had to try to figure things out, but we got upstairs and a few of our offensive guys made adjustments and I told our defensive guys we just got to tackle.”

The Rebels appeared headed toward their second score of the game midway through the third but Hocker’s helmet coming off may have been the bit of luck that Holmes needed to turn the tide on the game’s direction. With Hocker on the sideline for a single play and Hardy taking the second down snap cold off the bench, the Bulldogs took advantage, poking the ball out of Hardy’s arms as he was falling to the turf on the designed run. Holmes’ Hill shot through the middle of the Rebels’ line on its ensuing play for a 77-yard touchdown run, getting the Bulldogs on the board, 8-6.

But Holmes’ momentum did not end there. Boone’s punt was blocked by Dawoo Holtman on its following possession, as Holmes set itself up for good field position headed into the final quarter. The Bulldogs’ drive encompassed nearly 50 yards in five minutes with the legs of Garcia, Hill. After fullback Emauryon Arnold was stuffed on third-and-goal at the two-yard line, Nevels decided to go to the air, as Garcia floated a soft pass to Holtman in the end zone. The Bulldogs had their first lead of the game, 12-8.

Now faced with its first deficit, the Rebels offensive line woes continued, committing a false start on first down, followed by a Hocker sack. After punting away, the Bulldogs had a short field. Garcia found Kayden Crowell open for a 50-yard gain. Then on second down from the Rebels’ 21, Hill busted through the middle nearly untouched for the score and an 18-8 advantage for the Bulldogs.

“Our guys just responded, came out and played hard and did a great job of grinding out a win,” Nevels said.

Holmes (2-1) stays home next week to face the 2-1 Newport Wildcats, while Boone Co. (2-1) travels to Erlanger to take on 1-2 Lloyd. Both games are at 7 p.m.