NO STARS. NO EGOS. JUST NEXT MAN UP
Justin Holmes made a call to the offense while in shotgun formation during Northwestern’s District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal earlier this month.
Nick Henry, standing a few feet from the first-year quarterback, corrected the call.
“Nick knows every position on offense and defense,” Tigers coach Josh Snyder said. “He’s played almost every position.”
Such is life in the Colonial League, where most programs lack depth. Any substantive graduation creates a seismic shift in the next year’s starting lineup. Northwestern is proof of that in 2020. It did not have a returning starter on the offensive line. It moved its best wide receiver (Holmes) to quarterback and have a host of first-year starters filling in on both sides of the ball.
The Tigers also have been hit lately by injuries, including Henry, standout wide receiver Justin Rodda and linebacker Ryan McDonnell.
It is why Henry is not the only Tiger prepared to play many positions.
That adaptability is one reason why Northwestern (7-1) is in Thursday’s District 11 Class 4Achampionship game against a familiar foe Central Catholic (5-2). Kickoff is at 7:10 p.m. from Whitehall’s Zephyr Stadium.
The Tigers got a forfeit from Wilson in the semifinals because of COVID-19 concerns. The Vikings beat rival Bethlehem Catholic for a second time to advance.
Though another week off helped Henry and Rodda, neither will be at 100% Thursday, if they suit up.
No pity for the Tigers, though, who have had four players register their first career touchdowns in the last two games.
“And that wasn’t in mop-up roles,” Snyder said. “It was during crucial times in those games.”
Northwestern does what it can to prepare for the unexpected. Snyder runs 40 offensive plays per practice, draws up new plays for every game and tells starters the three or four positions they have to know for that particular contest.
The Tigers don’t bark at the added responsibilities. Instead, they relish the challenge and enjoy the added communication necessary to make it work.
“What’s great about this team is that we have a lot of weapons and a lot of guys stepping up,” Holmes said. “Three new guys scored in a district playoff
from Page 1 game, which was awesome.
“This team is a great family and we get the ball to everyone. We have a lot of different packages with a lot of different guys.”
When healthy, Northwestern’s offense was as formidable and explosive as any in the Colonial League. Henry is a standout runner and receiver. Rodda has big-play potential every time he touches the ball.
And Holmes is a unique athlete who continues to evolve as a quarterback. He is athletic, fast and capable of breaking tackles to turn short gains in game-changing plays.
All three, however, are part of a community of friends who don’t care who scores or grabs headlines. It is something Snyder gives credit to graduated star quarterback Deven Bollinger, who is close friends with Holmes, for fostering relationships through the 2019 season.
Holmes and Co. have continued that approach.
“When we put Justin back there,” Snyder said of this summer, “we quickly realized there was not a quarterback battle. Not many people have seen someone like him before in our league. He’s pretty intimidating with his size and athletic ability, and the fact he’s getting better and better week to week, it’s fun to watch.
“But his personality is like the rest of the guys on the team. He’s happy to be playing. It’s a team thing. It’s not something I harp on. It’s just what this team’s personality is. They have fun, win football games and get the most out of each other.”
Holmes was in the midst of one of his patented long gainers during the district quarterfinal win over Lehighton when he heard fellow junior Taylor Wikert yelling to him.
“He said, ‘Cut inside, then cut outside,’ ” Holmes recalled. “I did and we scored.”
Camaraderie has been an integral part in Northwestern evolving into a Colonial League and District 11 4A title contender.
The Tigers’ offensive line has merged into a cohesive group. It faces a huge test Thursday against a big, physical Central Catholic defense that has allowed 103 points in seven games. Their offensive playbook has expanded as that group has matured and Holmes’ comfort level has increased.
And those not pegged as starters have made the most of their opportunities — with their teammates’ support.
“There always are guys stepping up,” Snyder said. “We’re not as deep as a lot of teams. We shuffle the deck instead of going deep into our roster.
“It’s neat. It’s what I like about our kids. They are flexible. I know they want to be doing this. It’s incredible to have high school kids do it, want to do it.”