Jeff West 27, Holton 17

After not winning more than two games in any football season since 2019, Jeff West was turning some heads this season with a 3-1 start that included a one-point win at Riley County, a late fourth quarter comeback win at Royal Valley and a 12-7 victory against Hiawatha last week. However, week five was a statement game as first-year Head Coach Jeff Schwinn orchestrated a dominating 27-17 performance to spoil Holton's homecoming and give the Tigers their third win in last 30 games against Holton and first victory against the Cats in six seasons. 

Jeff West was focused, confident, and executed to near perfection, with plenty of power and swagger. On defense they had 9 tackles for a loss and another 9 plays in which they held Holton to no gain. On offense, the Tigers (who lost their starting running back to injury the week prior) came out in a five-wide empty backfield and called pass plays on the first 16 snaps of the game. In fact, JW had only handed the football off on one play all night going into the fourth quarter. Senior lineman Osiris Unruh had another dominant game on both sides of the football and leads the Tiger defense this year in tackles as the nose guard.   

Freshman quarterback Brixton Schwinn did throw a couple early picks, but was only touched in the pocket a couple times all night while completing 24-48 passes for 255 yards and throwing four touchdowns. One of his picks ricocheted off a receiver and a couple other passes were dropped in the first half. Schwinn would also led the Tigers with 61 rushing yards on the night with 15 carries. Junior brother Brody Schwinn caught 8 passes for 137 yards and a pair of TD's while Crayton Holman had 7 receptions and a score and Dalton Foster and Alex Jacobson combined for five more receptions as the Tigers improved to 2-0 in district play and 4-1 overall. 

It was an uphill battle for Holton all night as they were held to one play of more than 30 yards after breaking off 10 of those the previous two weeks. Trailing 14-0 midway through the second quarter Korban Wilson broke free on a 52-yard touchdown and led the Cats with 111 yards on 20 carries. QB Alec Frazier added 111 yards on the ground as Holton finished with 311 yards, going 0-5 in the passing game. Jarett Abel grabbed his third interception of the season and Andrew Shupe picked off a pass as well, but Holton had penalty that negated a third INT and would have given Holton momentum and the ball down 10 with just under 8 minutes remaining. 

Holton (3-2) had blocked a punt and scored on a 14-yard field when Cael Frazier ran in from four yards out and Wilson added the-two point conversion to make the score 27-17 with 9:28 left in the game. However the Wildcat problems started early as they didn't pick up a first down in their first two drives resulting in a punt and then turning the ball over on downs after getting stuffed on fourth and one from their own 30. The Cats had a first half fumble in the redzone for their only turnover of the night, but then went for fourth and two trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter and again came up short on their own 37-yard line, setting up a short Tiger field and TD. 

Holton has another big district game at undefeated Hayden next week while Jeff West will host Perry Lecompton (1-4).