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  • Crestview Knights Loses to Rival Wayne Trace.

    It was a hot, muggy, September afternoon, in the small town of Convoy, Ohio. Home of the Crestview Knights.

    The humidity hug over the town, like a wet blanket. The Local Slice was selling their delicious pizza. You could smell the popcorn as you entered the gate. There was even a small trailer selling fruits.

    It was Military Appreciation Night. Before the game, the packed crowd, applauded and paid tribute to those who served our country in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force.

    It was also a rivalry game, as they took on their neighbors to the north, the Wayne Trace Raiders.

    Crestview Knights running out onto the field.

    The Knights won the kickoff and elected to receive. They would fumble it and start at the 19 yard line. That would be a foreshadowing of the game. Knights QB Cooper Miller would pick up for 13 yards, and complete a 16 yard pass. Those would be the highlights before punting away.

    Wayne Trace would go three and out on their first possession. Crestview would return the punt for a TD, however, it was called back for an illegal blindside block penalty (that I did not see), and they’d start at the 41 yard line.

    The Knights would get a holding penalty on the next play, negating a 9 yard gain, making it 1 and 20 from the 49. Wayne Trace #0 would get called for holding on back-to-back plays, giving Crestview a first down. They’d do nothing on the drive, and end up turning it over on downs.

    Wayne Trace would take over at the 6 yard line. They’d use a timeout with 2:06 left in the first quarter. They’d fumble the snap on first down, run for 2 yards on second down, and throw an incomplete pass on 3rd down. Raiders P Reece Morehead inadvertently stepped out of the back of the endzone, giving the Knights a 2-0 lead. That would basically be it for the first quarter.

    Crestview would open the 2nd quarter with a 41 yard pass, giving them 1st and Goal at the 5. Runs of 2, 1, and 1, quickly made it 4th and Goal. The Raiders defense would step up and get the stop, causing another turnover on downs.

    Wayne Trace would get runs of 5, 3, and 5, before a Raiders pass was tipped at the line, but was still caught and for 7 yards. Runs of 9 and 5 yards, then Crestview would get a boneheaded 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which had Knights Assistant Coach Jake Harmon, absolutely livid on the sideline (understandably so). They now had a 1st and 10 at the 48. Incomplete pass, 1 yard run, and a 6 yard run, had them at 4th and 3. They’d pop off a 16 yard run, use their 2nd timeout with 4:15 left in the first half.

    The Knights would get a 4 yard TFL (tackle for loss), then get called for a 15 yard personal foul facemask penalty. Raiders QB Reece Morehead would throw 12 yard TD pass to WR Easton Jay. The would fake the extra point, and convert the 2 point try, giving them an 8-2 lead with 2:40 left in the 1st half.

    Wayne Trace would use their final timeout before the 1st down snap. The Knights would hit a 13 yard pass on 2nd down, to the 41. A 9 yard pass on first, then back-to-back incompletions had it 4th and 1. The Raiders would get called for DPI (defensive pass interference), and the Knights had another 1st down on the 35. 2 straight completions quickly had them down to the 6 yard line.

    Crestview QB Cooper Miller would hit WR Beau Lichtensteiger for a 6 yard TD. PAT was good, and the Knights had 9-8 lead with 1:08 left in the half.

    The Raiders would hit a 42 yard pass on 2nd down. That momentum would be quickly shut down, as Knights DB Hayden Waltmire would intercept the pass and return it 60 yards for a Crestview touchdown. PAT was no good. The Knights would take a 15-8 lead into the half.

    The Raiders would get the 2nd half kickoff, and would quickly get to 4th and 3. They would attempt a fake punt, but would come up short, giving the Knights the ball at the 37 yard line. A 17 yard pass on first down. 3 straight incompletions, including a drop on 4th down, and Crestview had yet another, turnover on downs.

    Wayne Trace would get a run of 6, pass of 5, run of 3, run of 2 yards. A high snap, would lead to an athletic QB scramble for 9 yards. Knights DL Kale Litchensteiger and LB Evin Brincefield, would combine to get a sack on 1st down. On the very next play, DL Denver McDougall would get in on the sack party, for a 9 yard loss. Raiders QB would run out of bounds at the 18 yard line. Wayne Trace would punt to the 42.

    Crestview would start with a false start penalty. They’d get a holding penalty on the next play, but it’d be declined, giving them 2nd and 15. A 7 yard pass, then incompletion, and they’d punt it away to the 42.

    The Raiders would start marching with runs of 6 yards, 5 yards, 7 yards, 5 yards, 2 yards, and 14 yards. 2 plays later, they’d run for an 8 yard TD. PAT was good, and it was now a 15-15 game with :20 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.

    CV QB Cooper Miller would be sacked by #50 for an 11 yard loss on the last play of the 3rd quarter.

    The Knights would start the 4th quarter with a 12 yard pass, to make it 3rd and 9. The Raiders would call a timeout. It worked, as Crestview QB Cooper Miller would throw an INT to #14.

    The Raiders would throw for 13 yards on 1st down, but then run for 0 yards, 6 yards, 1 yard, to make it 4th and 1. Knights LB Conner Hammons would block the pass attempt, and it’d be a turnover on downs.

    Crestview, however, could not do anything with the ball, and quickly went three and out.

    The first snap of the drive, the Raiders Carter Baumle would run a Bucks Sweep, for a 62 yard TD. The PAT was blocked. Wayne Trace now had a 21-15 lead with 7:41 left in the game.

    The Knights would get the ball at the 35 yard line. The Raiders would get a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on first down. Crestview would score on a long TD pass the next play, however, the WR ran out of bounds on the route, which is a 15 yard penalty. It was now 1st and 25 from the 46.

    They’d hit a 10 yard pass, but another 15 yard personal foul penalty by Wayne Trace, gave Crestview a 1st down at the 21 yard line. Incomplete pass, pass batted down, and incomplete pass, made it 4th and 10. They’d covert on a 12 yard pass. The Knights would score 2 plays later, on an HB Evin Brincefield 2 yard TD run. The PAT was fumbled, and no good. It was now a 21-21 game with 5:55 left in the game.

    Wayne Trace would return the ensuing kickoff to the 39 yard line. They’d get a QB scramble for 12 yard to the 50. Then, they’d pop off a big 49 yard run to the 1 yard line. Carter Baumle would run it in for a TD on the next play. The PAT was good, and the Raiders now had a 28-21 lead with 4:54 left in the game.

    The Knights start at the 32 yard line. Unfortunately, 4 straight incompletions and it was yet another, turnover on downs Crestview.

    The Raiders would go right back to the well. On the first play of the drive, they’d run the Buck Sweep, and score Carter Baumle would score 3rd TD of the game, on a 35 yard run. The PAT was good, and it was now a 35-21 game with 3:55 left in the game.

    That would be the final score, as the Knights couldn’t get anything going on the next drive, and the Raiders would kneel to end the game.

    This is the 1st time the Wayne Trace Raiders have defeated Crestview in football, since 2013, and 1st time AT Crestview since 2008.

    After the game, I asked Crestview Knights Head Coach Harting, about what positives he can takeaway from a tough loss to a rival.

    “You know, I thought we did a nice job in the first half defensively. Especially ending the half on a positive note. Offense had a nice little 2 minute drill for the score, and our defense got a Pick 6, was a really great way to end the half. But we came out in the second half and didn’t execute very well. We gotta do better there.”

    I asked him about the 2 TDs on the Bucks Sweep play, and the struggle to defend it.

    “The Bucks Sweep is one of their best plays, and we knew that coming into the game. They did a nice job getting down blocks, and we kinda got over the top of it, and they cut it back on us, and that really killed us. We got to be better up front, and not allow those nice easy runs.”

    I asked Coach about how it seems QB Cooper Miller gets in a better rhythm, when running the offense at a fast pace. Is that something they’re going to consider doing more often, as the season goes on.

    “Yeah, we see. Right now we gotta really evaluate everything. He’ll go out and throw a nice ball, then throw 3 or 4 straight incompletions. He has to string more of those completions together if we wanna have a chance.”

    The Knights are now 0-3 on the season. They take on the Spencerville Bearcats 0-3 to open up NWC play, next Friday night, September 11th.

    – by Sean McKenzie

  • Crestview Knights JV Football Loses a Heartbreaker to Minster.

    It was a warm Saturday morning, on the final weekend in August, and the Crestview Knights were taking on the Minster Wildcats, in their home opener of the 2026 season.

    The Wildcats opened the game with the football, and after getting to a 3rd and 5, they connected on a 12 yard pass to convert.

    A snap infraction penalty, had them behind the chains with 1st and 15. They ran a QB keeper and erased it all, with a 15 yard run. After an incomplete pass, another QB keeper run, took them all the way down to the 7 yardline.

    Knights LB Noah Mosier would get a big TFL (tackle for loss), for a 3 yard loss on first down. Minster couldn’t capitalize on the field position, turning it over on downs.

    Crestview would start their first drive at the 7 yardline. They get a 6 yard run, a pass to WR Wesley Wilt, and a 12 yard QB scramble. A holding penalty would erase a pass and make it 1st and 14. A quick 5 yard run, would make it 3rd and 8. A QB scramble converted for a first down. Minster would get an encroachment penalty, making it 1st and 5. An incomplete pass on 2nd down, would end the first quarter, with both teams knotted at 0-0.

    The second quarter starts with a quick pass for no gain and a -4 yard run, would have the Knights staring at 4th and 9. They’d fail to convert the pass, and like Minster on their first drive of the game, turn the ball over on downs.

    A QB keeper (they ran this play a lot in this game) for 2 yards on first down. They hit a 12 yard pass on 2nd down to convert. Another QB keeper, but they’d be stopped in the backfield by a host of Knights for a 1 yard loss, to make it 2nd and 11. A 6 yard pass would make it 3rd and 5. The Wildcats would connect on a slant pass and they’d take it to the house, for the first touchdown of the game. The PAT was blocked, and Minster had a 6-0 lead with 4:53 left in the first half.

    Crestview would get a big gain on a reverse, but it would be called back by a holding penalty. An incomplete pass on 2nd down, made it 3rd and 14. The Knights would hit a 30 yard pass downfield, and now had a 1st and down at the 39 yardline.

    A 4 yard run and a 3 yard pass would make it 3rd and 7. The Wildcats would get a big sack by #32, to make it a long 4th and 12. The Knights would call a timeout to take about it, with 1:10 seconds in the first half.

    Crestview QB #15 Calin Baliet would break a few tackles and run for a hard 12 yards, and convert the first down. He’d throw an INT on the next play. Minster fumbled the football on the recovery, however, an inadvertent whistle blew the play dead. Minster would throw 3 straight incompletions to end the first half, with a 6-0 lead.

    Crestview would get the ball to start the second half, and immediately go three and out. Minster would get the ball at the 33 yardline. A QB keeper for 6, and short run for 2, made it 3rd and 2. Another keeper would pick the first down. Back to back short runs, and an incomplete pass made it 4th and 4. The Wildcats would miss on a pass, and once again, turn it over on downs with 3:46 left in the third quarter.

    The Knights would get a 4 yard run of first down, before a bad snap would lead to a 4 yard loss on 2nd down.

    Snapping has been a serious problem for the Knights at both the JV and Varsity level the last 2 seasons.

    Wildcat DL #68 would get the sack on third down. Another high snap on the punt, but Minster run “punt safe”, so it got off safely, all the way down to the 29 yardline.

    Minster would get a false start penalty, and start with a 1st and 15. 3 straight incomplete passes, and they’d punt the ball right back.

    The Knights would get run for -3 yards to end the 3rd quarter, trailing 6-0.

    On 2nd and 13, Knights QB #15 Calin Baliet would hit #7 Bladin Scott, and he’d take it all the way for a Crestview touchdown. The PAT was good, and the Knights had their first lead of the game, 7-6, with 8:49 left in the game.

    Minster would get the football at the 35 yardline. Runs of 7 and 2, had them at 3rd and 1. They get a short run for the first down. The Wildcats would then connect on a long pass, all the way down to the Knights 7 yardline for a 1st and goal.

    A QB keeper for 6 yards, got them down to the 1 yardline. The Wildcats would call a timeout, with 4:35 left in the game. They’d run another QB keeper, and end up losing 2 yards. Now they were staring at a 3rd and goal from the 3.

    They’d go back to the QB keeper well again, and they’d punch it in for a touchdown. The 2-pt conversion was good, and they had a 14-6 lead with 3:38 left in the game.

    Minster scores their 2nd touchdown of the game, late in the 4th quarter.

    Crestview would throw an INT on the very first play of their possession. Minster would start at the 46 yardline, and get no gain on first down. They’d run for 17 yards, and then they would fumble the football on the next play, with the Knights recovering.

    The Knights would get a pass for no gain on first down. On second down, they’d get a 10 yard pass, and move the chains. QB Calin Baliet would then throw his 2nd interception of the game on the next play.

    Minster would start at the 38 yardline. A host of Knights would stop them for a 5 yard loss on first down, and Crestview would call a timeout. Minster would run for 5 yards to make it 3rd and 10, and Crestview would call their final timeout of the half.

    The Wildcats would hit a 10 yard pass for first down, to seal a hard fought 14-6 victory.

    – by Sean McKenzie

  • Crestview Knights Lose Season Opener at Home.

    It seemed like a long winter, spring, and summer. After weeks of practicing against your own guys for summer camp, and two scrimmages, it was finally football season again, in the small town of Convoy, Ohio.

    Coming in through the north gate, you smell the buttery goodness of popcorn. The Deja Brew coffee truck was making sure to keep you awake and alert. The Knight Pride Club was selling design your own custom tumblers.

    Parents were catching up with other parents about summer break, how the team looked, how well they think they would be this season.

    The Paulding Panthers won the toss and received the ball to start the game. HB #23 Cooper had a 16-yard run on the opening play, then a 25-yard run of the third play of the drive. Knights DL #1 Beckham Putman would put an end to the drive with a sack on 4th down.

    The Knights first drive would end in a three and out, after Panthers #23 would sack QB #9 Cooper Miller for a ten-yard loss on third down.

    Both teams would have three and outs on their next possessions.

    The Knights would have a bad snap on the punt. Snapping was a big problem for the Knights last season, and it continued not just here, but the whole game.

    A defensive face mask penalty would put Paulding at the 2-yard line. An incomplete pass, then the Panthers would call timeout with 1:53 left in the first quarter. Paulding would score a touchdown, but it was negated by an offensive pass interference call, making it now 3rd and goal from the 19-yard line.

    The Panthers would drop a pass, and now had a long 4th and goal. They’d use their second timeout with 1:42 left. Knights DB #3 Jacoby Gallimore would break up the pass in the endzone, ending the drive.

    Once again, the Crestview offense couldn’t get anything going at all, and had their third straight drive stall, without a first down. That would end the first quarter, with the score knotted up at 0-0.

    The Panthers next drive would end with a Knights INT by #4 Hayden Waltmire. Crestview would take over at the 25-yard line. An encroachment penalty would give the Knights a quick five yards, and make it first and ten. After no gain on first, QB Cooper Miller would hit #24 Harper Perrott for a 20-yard gain. The very next play, the Knights would fumble the ball, and the Panthers would recover at the 46-yard line.

    Paulding would have four straight runs of -1, 6, 6, and 13 yards, to get the ball to the 30. The Knights would get flagged for defensive pass interference, and that would give them a first and goal at the 7. Losses would send them back to the 19, before Panthers HB #23 Avery Cooper would score a TD on a 19-yard run. PAT was no good, and Paulding had a 6-0 lead with 5:22 left in the 2nd quarter.

    Knights QB #9 Cooper Miller would fumble the football on second down. The Panthers would give it back, the very next play, as Crestview LB #14 Tate Lichtensteiger would recover a Paulding fumble.

    After a 1-yard run, the Panthers would get hit with another encroachment penalty. Back-to-back runs would give the Knights a first down. The Knights would connect on a 11-yard pass on first down. A holding penalty would put Crestview behind the chains on first down. Incomplete pass on first down, then Miller would throw an INT, which was returned to the 32-yard line.

    Paulding would take a 12-0 lead with this TD pass from Ridge Hunt to Jason Manz.

    The Panthers would hit a 13-yard pass on first down to the 19. A 2-yard run and, then hit a pass all the way down to the Knights 2. Crestview would get a TFL (tackle for loss). Paulding would use their final timeout with 36 seconds left in the first half. They’d connect with 5-yard TD pass from Ridge Hunt to Jason Manz. The 2-pt attempt was no good, and the Panthers took a 12-0 lead, into the half.

    Knights WR #8 Cash Hammons would take the 2nd half kickoff back 68 yards, to the 19-yard line. That would be the highlight. A 4-yard run, a Panthers TFL, incomplete pass, and an 8-yard pass on 4th down, would end the Crestview drive.

    Paulding would take over, but a very angry Knights HC Cole Harting would have to call a timeout, as the defense was confused and not set. Crestview would get a TFL, but the Panthers responded with back-to-back passes of 12 and 10 yards. That momentum was short lived, as a holding call on Paulding would back them up 10 yards, making it 1st and 18 at the 24. Two straight incomplete passes ended the drive.

    Crestview would get runs of 3 yards, 5 yards, and 2 yards, for a first down.

    OHSAA officials would botch would should’ve been a Knights TD pass, instead, calling it a fumble and touchback (it literally happened it front of me, as I was less than 10 feet away from the play).

    The lucky break gave the Panthers the ball at the 20-yard line. A quick pass for 11 yards to the 31, followed by runs of 8 yards, 9 yards, and 8 yards, had them rolling with momentum. There was an official’s timeout (I was never told why, even when I asked them after the game). A Knights TFL made it third and long. Paulding would get a 20-yard run to convert.

    An incomplete pass, then runs of 8 yards and 1 yard, brought them to a fourth down and 1. Paulding would call a timeout to discuss strategy with 2:23 left in the third quarter. The strategy did not work, as an incomplete pass lead to a turnover on downs with 2:17 left.

    Once again, the Knights offense couldn’t do anything, and they were barely able to get the punt away, after their 2nd bad snap of the special teams.

    The Panthers took over at the 38-yard line. An incomplete pass on first down, then a long run all the way down to the 34. A 24-yard pass had Paulding quickly down to the 10-yard line. Runs of 6 yards and 1 yard, then an incomplete pass, made it another fourth down. Panthers called another timeout with 11:08 in the 4th.

    Knights DE #66 Will Sheets got a tipped INT, and returned it all the way to the 45 yard line.

    Another Miller incompletion was followed by a Knights timeout with 10:47 left.

    They’d get a short 5-yard gain, before QB Cooper Miller would hit WR Cash Hammons for a 40-yard TD pass. The PAT was no good, and the Knights were on the board, but trailing 12-6 with 10:02 left in the game.

    Another special teams blunder by the Knights, as the kickoff went out of bounds, giving Paulding the ball at the 35-yard line. Back-to-back runs would quickly have the Panthers to the 47-yard line. Knights DE Will Sheets would get a 5-yard TFL, to make it a long third down and 12. A short run made it fourth down.

    The Knights would make their 4th special teams mistake, by running into the punter, for a 5-yard penalty. The Panthers would run a fake punt and convert. Knights DB #23 Wesley Wit would get a 4-yard TFL. An incomplete pass would force a third down, and Paulding would use their final timeout with 6:03 left in the game. The fourth down attempt was incomplete, and they’d turn it over on downs.

    Crestview would have a run of 0 yards, and an incomplete pass, before Cooper Miller would hit WR Beau Lichtensteiger all the way down to the 40. HB #22 Evan Brincefield would run for 14 yards on second down, and follow it up with a 10 yard run the next play, to the 30. A 17-yard pass on second down, made it first, but the Knights had another holding penalty.

    Knights QB Cooper Miller would throw his second INT of the game, as Panthers CB #4 Emmet Barnes would return it 80 yards for a pick-six TD. The PAT was again, no good, and that would be the final score of the game, giving the Paulding Panthers a 18-6 victory.

    The Crestview Knights leading stats

    QB Cooper Miller was 10 of 22 for 180 yards 1 TD and 2 INTs.
    WR Beau Lichtensteiger had 4 catches for 96 yards.
    HB Evin Brincefield had 15 carries for 63 yards.

    I spoke to Crestview Knights Head Coach Cole Harting after the game.

    I asked him what positives he could take away from this loss.

    “That’s a really good offense, and we held our own. Holding those guys to only 12 points on offense, was a really good job, and I thought our defense did a great job. If we were to play that game again, and held them to 12 points, I’d be happy. We limited a lot of their big plays. Unfortunately, our offense turned the ball to many times, and gave them a lot of short fields. We can’t do that. If we want to win games, we can’t turn the ball over”.

    I asked him about Junior QB Cooper Millers’ first start.

    “He’s just got to play with confidence. Things didn’t go well in that first half. Things didn’t go his way early on, and he struggled to overcome those. They have a really talented secondary, so he’s just got to stay positive and keep working at it, and just play with a little bit more confidence”.

    I asked about how well the defensive line held up, made plays, giving the young secondary time to grow.

    “Absolutely. Having those guys up front, just creating havoc every single play. I wanted to create pressure with three or four guys, and we were able to do that consistently”.

    The Crestview Knights (0-1) are on the road to take on the Minster Wildcats (1-0) on Friday Night.

    – Sean McKenzie

    Stats courtesy of…..Chris Lutz.

  • Crestview Knights 2026 High School Football Season Preview.

    As summer break draws to close all across the state of Ohio, it means that it’s time for the pads to start popping at summer camp. Here in the small town of Convoy, Ohio, it’s already underway.

    The Knights finished last season with a 6-4 overall record, 4-3 in the Northwest Conference. Just missing out on getting a playoff spot, in the final week of the regular season, in an extremely tough Division 6, Region 22.

    The first thing to comes to mind for the 2026 Crestview Knights is dichotomy.

    Why???

    Because, while they return a lot of experience on both sides of the football (17 returning letter winners out of 44 players), they lost 90% of the teams’ overall production from last season.

    Which truly shows just how good and versatile HB/DB Braxton Leeth, TE/DL Liam Putman and WR/DB Hayden Perrott were.

    I was able to spend some time at a practice and at a scrimmage, this week against the Leipsic Vikings.

    DL/OL #66 Will Sheets is the biggest returning name. The 6’5″, 235 lbs senior, had 45 tackles, 6 sacks, 13 TFLs, and 2 forced fumbles. He also starts at OT. He’s one of my favorite players to watch, as he’s so athletic. He does a great job of setting the edge on both sides of the football.

    At 6’2″ 165 lbs, junior WR/DB #8 Cash Hammons is another favorite of mine. He played a lot as a sophomore last season and immediately performed well. 35 tackles and 3 INTs. In fact, he was an allsportfan.com player of the game last season.

    6’0″, 210 lbs senior, OL/LB #55 Kale Lichtensteiger plays a hard-nosed game. As many of you know, I love playing a physical game and watching physical players. Kale is that, and fun to watch. He’ll stick his nose right into the gap and take on lineman or the back. He had 26 tackles and 3 TFLs last season.

    There is absolutely no way to replace the production of All-State, All-Northwest Conference, and Division 6 Ohio Offensive Player of the Year HB Braxton Leeth (incredibly polite and well-spoken young man as well).

    Knights Head Coach Cole Harting told me that they will use a committee approach this season (interview below).

    #14 Tate Lichtensteiger and #22 Evin Brincefield will probably get the bulk of the carries this season, but they will ride whoever has the hot hand that game, regardless class.

    6’1″, 185 lbs junior, #9 Cooper Miller will be the new starting quarterback.

    I covered every JV game last season. He has a big arm. He’s tough (played with a broken arm), isn’t afraid to take on defenders when running the ball, and has no qualms about throwing it up and trusting his WRs to make a play.

    I spoke with Knights Head Coach Cole Harting about the upcoming season, and what to expect.

    My first question was about the loss of team production, especially on the offensive side of the football.

    “Braxton had an incredible career, and we relied on his running ability. We had a couple good receivers with Hayden Perrott and Liam Putman, and if you look at that, that’s 90% of our yards gone. We’re looking for guys to step up and fill those voids. Fortunately for us, we’re returning four out of five starters on the offensive line. We’ve got good players to protect us up front and create some running lanes, and that’s a good spot to be in.”

    The biggest issue on the offensive line last season, was center. There were problems with the snaps. I asked Coach Harting about that specific position and issue.

    “Right now, our center position is not settled. Obviously, getting the snap back there is important, and we work on that everyday in practice. Last year, we had some snaps there were untimely, and those snaps came at crucial times in the game, and they cost us some possessions. I look to have that settled here in the next couple weeks.”

    The loss of Braxton came up, and that’s were Coach spoke about the committee approach.

    “Braxton had a once in a generation season. That type of season and career doesn’t just happen all the time. He was a phenomenal player, and I think it’s a hard ask for our kids to go and make a run at that type of season. Our kids will do a nice job of stepping up. We have a couple scrimmages coming up, and I think we’re going to figure out who can run the ball, the most effective. Throughout the year, we’re going to give all those guys opportunities. I’m going to play the hot hand, and that may change from game to game.”

    I asked about the defense. How Will Sheets and Cash Hammons bring back experience, production, and how they’ll step into the leadership role now.

    “Those guys have shown tremendous leadership so far. Cash is in our secondary and makes sure everyone is lined up in the right spot. Will does a nice job leading guys up front, and he causes havoc every single play. I expect those guys to have big years for us, and get our defense in a spot where we’ll be making plays and stops on a consistent basis.”

    The Knights finish the season against three straight playoff teams from last year. Bluffton and Columbus Grove at home, then the season finale at Lima Central Catholic. I asked Coach Harting about the tough finish to the upcoming season.

    “Well, that’s just how it worked out. Those were three very good teams and will be very good again this year. You just have to play them when you play them, and this year, it fell that we have to play them at the end of the season. I think our non-league schedule will prepare us well. We open up with Paulding, they were a good team last year, and I look for them to be good again. We play Minster in Week 2, and they’re going to be a very good football team. Wayne Trace is always a good opponent for us. So those teams are going to test us early.”

    Coach Harting spoke about the improvement he expects to see from the NWC (Northwest Conference) as a whole.

    “You look at Week 4 with Spencerville, Week 5 with Fort Loramie, and Allen East is a very solid team, I think Delphos Jefferson will be better compared to where they were last season. They had a really good defense last year. I think just overall our league is very good, and we’re going to have to be competitive every single week, and hopefully, by the end of the season, we’ll be playing our best football, and that’s where you want to be playing your best.”

    It’s going to be a rough season for the Knights, as they play 5 teams that made the playoffs last year. The Paulding Panthers, Minster Wildcats, Bluffton Pirates, Columbus Grove Bulldogs, Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds.

    I think they can beat Paulding, but if they want a chance to make the playoffs this season, they’re going to have to sweep Weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and then find a way to pull at least one upset against Minster, Bluffton, Grove, or LCC. That’s a tough ask. Matching last seasons record would be a great accomplishment.

    The Crestview Knights open up the 2026 football season on August 21st, at home, against the Paulding Panthers.

    by Sean McKenzie.

  • Knights Get a Big Win on Homecoming.

    Group of high school students in football uniforms and formal attire during a homecoming ceremony on a football field.

    Homecoming is a week full of fun and celebration. The schools have spirit week. Where each day the kids dress up in a different theme. There’s a parade through town, where kids ride in trucks and in flatbeds, and fire departments from around the area get to play with their lights and sirens.

    It’s also a week where alumni return to school, to talk about “the good old days” and reconnect with their alma mater. As well as see and talk to people that they haven’t seen in a while, as they get lost in the shuffle of life.

    It all cumulates on a cool, slightly breezy, fall Friday evening, I was surrounded by mothers taking pictures on their phones, as a new king and queen were crowned, in a ceremony before a big conference football game.

    Ceremony crowning the homecoming king and queen, with crowned students standing on a football field surrounded by peers and young helpers.

    Brentyn Rodriguez and Ellie Ward were voted king and queen for 2025.

    After all the pomp and circumstance, and pregame activities, run by Coach Dylan Hicks, it was time to get down to the business at hand.

    The #14 Crestview Knights needed a win to keep their slim hopes of a playoff berth alive, against the #22 Spencerville Bearcats, in a very tough Division 6, Region 22.

    A football player wearing a red jersey with the number 2 runs through a cheerleader tunnel, with cheerleaders in black and colorful pom-poms on either side, as a large inflatable mascot looms in the background.

    On the first play of the game, HB Braxton Leeth ran the ball for 24 yards to keep the crowd cheering loudly. QB Huxley Grose hit TE Liam Putman on a shovel pass, that went to the 1-yard line. Spencerville defense held strong and stopped Leeth for a loss of 3 yards.

    On third down, the Bearcats held strong again, and dropped Leeth for 2 yards. It was now fourth and goal from the 6-yard line. Crestview head coach called his first timeout of the game with 8:24 left in the first quarter.

    Instead of attempting a field goal, the Knights went for it. QB Huxley Grose dropped back to pass, but there was nothing open. He scrambled around the left side, and took it into the endzone for the first touchdown of the game.

    A football player in a black jersey is attempting to tackle an opponent in a red jersey while other players are engaged in the play on a grass field under dim lighting.

    The PAT was no good. The Knights had a 6-0 lead early.

    The Crestview defense had a good first series, as DE Will Sheets had a TFL on second down, to force a third and long for the Bearcats. DB Cash Hammons (more on him later) got the interception on the pass in great field position.

    Leeth had a 12-yard catch from Grose on first down. He’d hit WR Hammons for 8 yards, and then Leeth would take it in for a 3-yard touchdown run. A bad snap (something the Knights have struggled with all season), led to another missed PAT, making it a 12-0 Crestview lead, with 6:07 left in the first quarter. That would be the last score of the first.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights leading 12-0 against the guest team during a football game.

    The Bearcats would not go quietly, as they proceeded to eat away at the clock. Runs of 5, 4, 3, 8, 4, and 4 just tired out the Knights and defense. They’d get a 10-yard run on a very nice QB scramble by Grady Smith. They’d finally get on the board, on a beautiful play action fake, and a wide-open touchdown. PAT was good, to make it a 12-7 Knights lead.

    Knights TE Liam Putman would return the squib kick for 30 yards. He’d drop a pass from Grose on first down, and Crestview would end up turning to the ball over on downs, after another missed connection by Grose and Putman.

    Once again, the Bearcats would just march the ball down the field. Runs of 12, 2, 2, 13, 9, and 15 yards, would force Knights head coach Cole Harting to call another timeout with 4:01 left in the half, as the defense was completely gassed. A Knights facemask penalty would setup a Bearcats touchdown on a QB sneak. PAT was good and Spencerville had a 14-12 lead with 2:15 left in the first half.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights with 12 points, Spencerville Bearcats with 14 points, in a high school football game.

    It would be a VERY SHORT lead for the Bearcats, as Knights WR/DB/K Hayden Perrott took the ensuing kickoff up the middle, before cutting to the right, and breaking tackles, all the way to the endzone for an 85-yard touchdown, to get the crowd back into the game.

    The Knights would go for the two-point attempt, and it would be no good. Crestview would take an 18-14 lead into the locker room, as the Bearcats couldn’t do anything before the half.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights 18, Guest 14, 2 minutes left in the second quarter.

    Spencerville would receive the kickoff, and it was the same old story. Run the ball and wear the defense out. Runs of 1, 28, and 12 yards, before another Knights penalty (encroachment) would help them even more. They’d score on an 8-yard run. PAT was no good, but the Bearcats had the lead again, 20-18 with 10:06 left in the third.

    Football players in red uniforms prepared for a play on the field, with a scoreboard in the background and a clear night sky.

    The Knights were backed up after the kickoff, but Leeth would take over the drive. Runs of 27 yards, 13 yards, 8 yards, a Bearcat penalty (encroachment), would all lead to a 23-yard touchdown run by Leeth. The 2-point attempt was successful.

    Crestview regained the lead 26-20 with 7:07 left in the third quarter. That would be it for the quarter. A bone-headed unnecessary roughness penalty by Crestview, was the only real highlight after the score.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights 26, Spencerville Bearcats 20, with 12:00 left in the game.

    Leeth had runs of 6 and 3, before a Spencerville penalty (encroachment). Leeth would continue to run, and ultimately score from 6 yards out. PAT was good, giving the Knights a 33-20 lead with 11:55 left in the game.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights 33, Guest 20, with 11:55 left in the fourth quarter and 2nd down.

    The Bearcats got stuffed on the ensuing kickoff, getting tackled at the 15-yard line. Spencerville runs of 8, 17, 2, 3, and 4 yards, had them quickly down the field. A Bearcat pass of 14 yards took them to the 32-yard line. Knights LB #55 Kale Lichtensteiger had a 3-yard TFL, hoping to stop the momentum.

    The Bearcats answered right back the next play with a 14-yard run. The Knights answered that with a 1-yard TFL (missed the number), to bring up a big fourth down and two. Spencerville ran the ball up the gut, to get the first down, on a generous spot, that the side judge was overruled on.

    A competitive moment during a high school football game, with players from both teams engaged in a pile-up on the field under night lights.

    Runs of 7 yards and 10 yards, got the Bearcats into a first and goal from the 6-yard line. Back-to-back runs of 2 yards each made it third and goal. Knights LB #28 Conner Hammons was hurt on the play, but walked off under his own power.

    Spencerville scored the next play, with a 2-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good, cutting the lead to 33-27, with 4:46 left in the game.

    Scoreboard displaying the final score of a football game, Crestview Knights 33, Spencerville Bearcats 27, with 4:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    The Bearcats recovered the ensuing onsides kick, after the Knights special teams, looked scared to go after the ball. There was an almost 5-minute delay of the game, because the officials had another pow-wow, to discuss where the ball should be spotted.

    By rule, the ball cannot be advanced by the runner, on an onsides kick. The Bearcats recovered it on the bounce and returned it almost to the 30-yard line. The officials finally did get it right, and moved the ball back to the 41-yard line.

    The Bearcats quickly had runs of 1 yard, 3 yards, and 4 yards, to make it fourth and two. A false start penalty, pushed it back 5 more yards, and it was now fourth and seven, from the 38.

    Knights WR/DB sophomore Cash Hammons would grab his 2nd INT of the night, and stop the comeback attempt in its’ tracks.

    A football player wearing a red jersey with the number 2 is evading a tackle from a player in a black jersey during a nighttime game, while additional players from both teams are visible in the background.

    HB Braxton Leeth had a long touchdown run negated by a very controversial holding penalty, that was discussed by the officials for over a minute.

    It literally happened right in front of me at the 15-yard line. It was a bad call.

    Leeth came back to the huddle, quite unhappy, and proceeded to have an ANGRY ten-yard run on the very next play, where he absolutely TRUCKED a Bearcat defender, and got the Knights sideline jumping around.

    The Bearcats called their final two timeouts, after runs of 5 yards, and 11 yards, by Leeth. Crestview would take a knee to run out the clock, and get a big 33-27 win on homecoming,

    A football player wearing a red jersey and pants stands on the field, smiling and holding up an award certificate.

    WR/DB Cash Hammons was the allsportsfan.com Player of the Game.

    He had 2 big INTs, that stopped the Bearcat offense dead in their tracks, when they had all the momentum.

    HB Braxton Leeth had 23 carries, for 238 yards, and 3 TDs to lead the offense.

    I spoke to Crestview Knights Head Coach Cole Harting after the game, about getting this big win after a 2-game losing streak.

    “Yeah, I mean coming off our last two weeks, you look at those teams, and they are excellent football teams. It’s definitely good to get back into the win column. Hats off to Spencerville, but our guys made enough plays down the stretch and seal it up.”

    High school football players in red and white uniforms walk across the field after a game, shaking hands with opponents.

    I asked coach, about need to get the upset win against LCC next Friday on senior night, at a chance to make the playoffs.

    “You know, we just got to play with a little bit more physicality all the time. Right now, it’s coming in spurts. Every single man. We have to play physical, and if we do that, I think we can really be in that game next week.”

    I spoke to him about Cash Hammons big game.

    Two football players in red uniforms, one (#28) facing away and another (#8) holding a football while looking determined, set against a night game backdrop.

    “We talked about it all week. We have to stop them on first and second down, and get them into third and long situations. Cash came up with a great play to setup our second touchdown, and another great play to seal the game for us. The really great thing is he’s only a sophomore, and he’s going to continue to learn.”

    The Crestview Knights (6-3, 4-2 NWC) play the Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds (8-1, 5-1 NWC) at home for Senior Night. Game starts a 7:00 PM (EST).

    Three students at a football game, wearing matching black shirts with pink lettering supporting breast cancer awareness, smiling and posing for the camera.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats courtesy of…..Chris Lutz.

    Pictures courtesy of…..Wyatt Photography and myself.

  • Knights Defense Pitches a Shutout, in Conference Win.

    The Crestview Knights football team runs through an inflatable player tunnel during the pregame festivities on Military Appreciation Night.

    It was Military Appreciation Night in Convoy, Ohio, on a warm, early fall evening.

    The Crestview Knights took the field, donning special uniforms, after pregame ceremonies thanking local community members, for their service to our great country.

    The Delphos Jefferson Wildcats made the short trip west on US-30, looking to pick up their first conference win of the season.

    On the first snap of the game, the Wildcats fumbled the football but managed to recover. After picking up a first down, they would get nothing. Jefferson converted a fake punt, but a delay of game penalty and another fumble for an eighteen-yard loss, would stall their opening drive.

    High school football game in Convoy, Ohio, featuring Crestview Knights in special uniforms and Delphos Jefferson Wildcats on the field with a scoreboard in the background.

    The Knights would not convert their own 4th and 4, on their first possession of the game. Knights TE/DE Liam Putman would get his 1st of 7 sacks (new school record) on second down, forcing the Wildcats into a 3rd and 16.

    Putman would have 3rd down catches of 11 and 8 yards on the ensuing possession for the Knights.

    Crestview would finally get on the board, with a 59-yard touchdown run by quarterback Huxley Grose, at the 1:17 mark of the game of the first quarter. That would be it for the quarter as well.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights leading 7-0 against the Delphos Jefferson Wildcats with 1:17 left in the first quarter.

    The Wildcats would once again struggle with the snap. This time on a 4th and 3 punt. The high snap would force the punter into an incomplete pass, giving the Knights the football at the 27-yard line. Crestview wouldn’t do anything with the ball on this drive, and ended up missing a 45 yard field goal attempt.

    Another bad snap on 2nd down, making it a 3rd and 9. The Wildcats would convert on a big 48-yard pass, all the way down to the 38-yard line. After a false start penalty, Jefferson would call a timeout, with 8:12 left in the half.

    The theme continued, as the 2nd bad snap of the drive, made it 3rd and 35 for Jefferson. Pressure by the Knights defense forced a bad pass, and #0 Hayden Perrott would pick it off, and take the interception back 50 yards for a touchdown. Made it a 14-0 game with 7:00 minutes left.

    Crestview Knights football scoreboard showing Knights 14, Guest 0, with 7:00 minutes left in the second quarter.

    A Jefferson false start penalty on 2nd down and Crestview would get a sack by #66 OT/DE Will Sheets would end the drive.

    Knights #15 WR/DB Braxtyn Couts would get their 2nd interception of the game.

    #4 QB Huxley Grose would connect with #15 Braxtyn Couts for a 25-yard touchdown pass. PAT was good, and that would end the scoring for the first half, with the Knights leading 21-0.

    Scoreboard displaying Crestview Knights 21, Delphos Jefferson Wildcats 0 at halftime with 20 minutes remaining.

    Special shoutout to Crestview Knights #13 WR/DB Bowen Ayers, who returned my 50/50 tickets, that fell out of my pocket.

    The Knights would lose a yard on the first play of the half, then a holding call would push the ball back to the 17-yard line. They would be forced to punt from deep in their territory.

    The Knights would recover a fumble.

    #2 HB/DB Braxton Leeth would finally get his first good run of the game, going 13 yards. A Crestview false start would make it 1st and 15 on the 35.

    Leeth would pop off back-to-back 18 yard runs and score his first touchdown of the game. PAT good making it 28-0 with 7:55 left in the 3rd.

    Crestview Knights scoreboard showing a score of 28-0 against the guest team, with 7:55 remaining in the third quarter.

    DEs Liam Putman and Will Sheets would get a big 3rd down sack.

    HB Braxton Leeth would run for 9 yards on first down.

    QB Huxley Grose would lose 2 yards, making it 3rd and 3 from the 36.

    Leeth would run for 37 yards and his 2nd touchdown of the game.

    A football play in progress during a night game, with players in dark and light uniforms on the field, bright stadium lights illuminating the scene.

    The PAT was good, making it a 35-0 Crestview lead.

    That would be the final scoring play of the game.

    The scoreboard at a football game shows Crestview Knights leading 35-0 against the guest team, with 0:00 time remaining in the fourth quarter.

    QB Huxley Grose finished the game 12 of 21, for 102 yards, and 1 TD.

    HB Braxton Leeth had 17 carries, for 117 yards, with 2 TDs.

    TE Liam Putman had 4 catches, for 32 yards.

    Putman also led the team in tackles and sacks with 7, to become the 1st ever allsportsfan.com Player of the Game.

    A football player from the Crestview Knights stands on the sidelines after a game, wearing a camouflage jersey and holding a ticket while smiling for the camera.

    I spoke to Crestview Knights Head Coach Cole Harting on the sideline after the game.

    I asked him what were the positives in another conference win?

    “I thought our defense played lights out. Liam Putman had five, six, or seven sacks, and that was huge for us. Our defense has struggled at times this season, and to come out and with this type of dominate performance was just amazing to watch. We struggled on offense tonight and our defense picked us up.

    Football team huddled together on the field during a night game, surrounded by coaches and support staff.

    I asked him about Liam Putmans’ dominate game, especially his catches on 3rd down. If that was something they worked on in practice this week.

    “We always work on third downs, and we really work on our plays, and we really run and focus on those plays. We executed very well tonight on those plays.

    Crestview Knights football team poses together on the field after Military Appreciation Night, wearing special camouflage uniforms.

    The Knights were unstoppable off the edge in the game. Getting pressure on Jefferson all game long and forcing scrambles and not letting him get comfortable. I asked him about the defensive performance off the edge.

    “Our guys up front played phenomenal tonight. They made it tough for their quarterback. We didn’t give him time and that led to a couple of interceptions which is pretty awesome.”

    The Knights are now 5-1 overall, and 3-0 in the Northwest Conference. They travel to Bluffton next Friday Night to play the Pirates. Game starts at 7:00 PM (EST).

    – by Sean McKenzie

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    Stats courtesy of…..Chris Lutz.

  • Knights Win a Shootout, in Conference Opener.

    A group of children excitedly watches as football players exit an inflatable knight tunnel at a field during warm late summer evening.

    It was a warm, late summer evening, with a slight breeze in Convoy, Ohio.

    Little children running around with excitement.

    The smell of salty, buttery, freshly popped popcorn permeated the air, making your mouth water just a bit.

    It was the start of Northwest Conference play. The race for the title has officially begun.

    Fort Loramie got the ball first, and couldn’t get anything started, as Knights CB Hayden Perrott got a sack on 3rd down, forcing a punt.

    A youth football game in Convoy, Ohio, featuring players in blue and black uniforms on the field during a warm summer evening, with spectators in the background.

    Crestview offense took to the field and struck quickly, as HB Braxton Leeth scored on the very first offensive play from scrimmage. Taking it 42 yards for the touchdown with 10:30 on the clock.

    The Redskins would answer back with a 32-yard touchdown from QB Tanner Heckman to Tanner Eilerman. They’d convert a 2-point conversion to make it 8-7.

    Knights TE Liam Putman would get a nice return on the kickoff, down to the 41-yard line. Leeth would score another touchdown, this time from 50 yards out. The PAT was no good, making it a 13-8 Knights lead with 6:41 left in the first quarter. That would be the score at the end of 1.

    Scoreboard displaying Crestview Knights 13 and Guest 8 with 12:00 on the clock in the second quarter.

    The Knights would get a TFL on first down. Redskins QB Tanner Heckman misses a wide open reciever on 3rd and 12.

    Crestview and Fort Loramie would trade stops in the 2nd quarter before the Redskins would score on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Heckman to Hoying. The ensuing 2-point conversion attempt failed. Giving them a 14-13 lead.

    Knights HB Braxton Leeth would score his 3rd touchdown of the first half, from 42 yards out. The 2-point attempt was successful, and the Knights took the lead 21-14.

    High school football game in Convoy, Ohio, with players on the field preparing for a play under a colorful sunset.

    The Redskins would convert a big 3rd and 8 on a 10-yard run with 2:47 left in the 2nd quarter. They’d score on a Ray Hoying 4-yard run, and another successful 2-point conversion, to make it 22-21 with 1:00 minute left in the quarter.

    Crestview would again answer very quickly, on a 36-yard run by WR Hayden Perrott with only 0:15 seconds left in the first half. The Knights lined up to go for another 2-point conversion, but a false start penalty, changed head coach Cole Hartings mind. The PAT was good, and it was a 28-22 Knights lead going in at the half.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights 28 and Guest 22 as the 3rd quarter ends.

    Knights QB Huxley Grose would complete a quick pass for a first down, before Leeth would score on a 46-yard touchdown run. PAT good, to make it 35-22.

    Fort Loramie would respond with an 11-yard pass, and later a big run down to the Crestview 15-yard line. HB Hoying would take it in from 6 yards out for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion succeeded, and they cut lead to 35-30 with 8:43 left in the 3rd quarter.

    Grose would hit Perrott for 9 yards on first down. Leeth would pop another big run, down to the 25-yard line, before breaking a tackle in the backfield and scoring his fifth touchdown. This time from 4 yards out. 2-point conversion fails, but it’s now a 41-30 Knights lead with 5:57 on the clock.

    Knights DE Will Sheets would get a sack and force a fumble, at the 10-yard line.

    A high school football game in progress, showing players from two teams on the field during a night game.

    Leeth would make it touchdown number 6, from 10-yards out. The PAT was good, to take an 18-point lead. 48-30, with 5:33 left in the 3rd quarter.

    The Knights would force a Redskins punt. Crestview would muff the punt, and the Redskins would recover, however, it was negated by an illegal formation penalty.

    Fort Loramie would force the Knights into a 4th and 2 from the 37. Coach Harting would go for it, handing it off to Leeth, who took it up the middle for 7 yards and a first down to the 30. QB Grose would hit TE Putman to the 22.

    It would be a 48-30 Knights lead heading into the 4th quarter.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights 48, Guest 30, with 12:00 left in the fourth quarter, down showing 3rd down and 2 yards to go.

    The Braxton Leeth show would conclude with his 7th touchdown of the game. A 5-yard run. The PAT would be good, and Crestview would take a 25-point lead 55-30, with 11:05 left in the game.

    The Redskins would get on the board, one last time on a 1-yard run by Zander Grillot. The 2-point conversion was good, and that would give us the final score of 55-38.

    Scoreboard displaying a football game between Crestview Knights and an opposing team, showing a score of 55 for the Knights and 38 for the guests with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    Knights HB Braxton Leeth finished the night with 24 carries, for a massive 315 yards, with a whopping 7 TDs.

    The senior running back has ran for 1,046 yards, on 91 carries, for 16 TDs, and 0 fumbles, in 4 games this season.

    I spoke to Crestview Knights head coach Cole Harting after the game.

    I asked him how it felt to start conference play with a big win at home.

    “You obviously want to start league play 1 and 0. We didn’t want to start behind the eight ball with the rest of the league. It was great to come out here and establish some physicality and run the ball.”

    Two football teams shaking hands at the end of a night game on a well-lit field.

    I asked him about maybe leaning too much on Leeth.

    “You know, Fort Loramie is a good team, and they can score a bunch of points. He’s our best player and you know, you look at it, he only had 8 carries in the first half, scoring several touchdowns, it’s not really that alarming. We try to mix it up a little bit at any time when need a play, but he’s our go to guy.”

    Fort Loramie had success passing the football, using motion in the backfield, and getting open on crossing routes.

    “That’s something if you watch on film, that Fort Loramie wanted to go to #81 and #0. They didn’t really focus on throwing to anybody else, so our defense was focused on those guys, and we did a nice job of limiting them. #81 made a couple of nice plays, and #0 did a nice job, but we made them earn it.”

    A group of football players in blue jerseys huddled together on the field during a nighttime practice, surrounded by coaches and staff.

    It seemed like DE Will Sheets was always in the backfield when the Knights needed him to be. I talked to Coach Harting about that.

    “He’s put on a lot of weight. A lot of good weight. A lot of muscle, and it’s really showing up now on Friday nights. It’s been really awesome to see that transformation as a football player, so we expect big things out of him and he does so, by making timely stops for us on defense.”

    The Knights (3-1 overall, 1-0 in the NWC), travel to Harrod, Ohio next Friday night, to take on the Allen East Mustangs (1-3 overall, 0-1 in the NWC). Game starts at 7:00 PM (EST).

    Stats and information courtesy of…..Chris Lutz.

  • Knights Take on Raiders, in County Rivalry Game.

    A group of four high school girls dressed in patriotic attire, smiling and posing together at a football game. They are wearing colorful hats and accessories, celebrating military appreciation night.

    Nothing says small town Americana like a high school, Friday Night football game, on a cool, crisp, fall evening.

    It was military appreciation night as, the Crestview Knights took the short trip to Haviland, Ohio to take on the Wayne Trace Raiders.

    This was the 2nd rivalry game in 3 weeks for the Knights.

    It would be a fast start for the Knights in the first quarter, as HB Braxton Leeth take it to the house on a 78-yard touchdown run every early.

    Wayne Trace would control the clock in the first quarter but not get on the board.

    Crestview Knights football player celebrating on the field during a game at sunset.

    Leeth would once again, get into the endzone with a 53-yard run, on a 3rd and 5.

    The senior running back would finish the game with 13 carries, for 233 yards, and 4 TDs (78, 53, 15, 34).

    The 2nd quarter would continue to be a friendly one for the Knights, as WR/DB Hayden Perrott would score two touchdowns.

    The first was a 48-yard pass from QB Huxley Grose to make it a 21-0.

    He’d follow that right up with a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown, to give the Knights a 28-0 lead.

    A high school football player in camo jersey is tackled by an opponent during a game.

    The Knights defense held strong for most of the first half.

    The Wayne Trace Raiders would finally get on the board with 36.2 seconds left in the half, when Clay Stoller took it in from 5 yards out.

    The Knights went into the locker room with a 28-7 at the half.

    TE Liam Putman had a big 24-yard catch in the first drive of the 3rd quarter, which was finished off by Leeth’s 3rd touchdown of the night. The PAT was no good, so it was a 34-7 game.

    The following drive, it was once again, Grose to Putman for 24 yards. Grose was sacked on a first down, to make it a 2nd and 19. What do you do?

    A football player from the Crestview Knights team tackles an opposing player from the Wayne Trace Raiders during a high school football game under a setting sun.

    You just hand it off to #2 and watch him bounce it outside and run for a 39-yard touchdown (his 4th and final one of the night).

    The score was now 41-7 Knights, and the running clock went into effect.

    The Raiders would get into the endzone three times in the 3rd and 4th quarters, as the backups from Crestview were now playing, to make it a bit more of a respectable final score of 41-20.

    The Knights have beaten the Raiders, 11 straight seasons now.

    The Crestview Knights (2-1) open up NWC play, next Friday Night, at home, against the Fort Loramie Redskins (1-2). Game starts at 7:00 PM (EST).

    A group of cheerleaders in Crestview Knights athletic attire, posing on the sidelines of a football field, with a crowd in the background.

    – by Sean McKenzie.

    Stats courtesy of …..Chris Lutz.

    Pictures courtesy of…..Richardson Photography.

  • Crestview Knights take on the 4-time defending state champions.

    Crestview Knights football team walking onto the field before a game, wearing blue uniforms, with coaches and staff in the background.

    The Crestview Knights varsity football opened their 2025 home schedule against the toughest team in the entire state of Ohio.

    The Marion Local Flyers.

    The Flyers came in on a 65-game winning streak, and have won 4 straight football state championships.

    The Knights came in 1-0 after defeating rival Parkway, 62-41.

    Crestview Knights football team running onto the field before the game.

    Crestview received the opening kickoff, and got a nice return by #2 Braxton Leeth. That would be as good as it got for the Knights on the opening drive.

    A miscommunication on 3rd down, led to a 5-yard loss. That was immediately followed by a bad snap, causing Marion Local to take over at the 23-yard line.

    The Flyers scored a touchdown on the 1st play, with a 23-yard run by #20 Ben Meier, to take a fast 7-0 lead.

    A Crestview Knights football player in blue uniform number 4 prepares to pass the ball while being pressured by a player from the opposing team in yellow.

    The following possession, Knights QB #Huxley Grose would get a nice scramble for a first down. The Flyers would stop Leeth for a 1-yard loss on 3rd and 3.

    Knights head coach Cole Harding would go for it on 4th down, but the Flyers broke up the pass.

    The Flyers would score on the 2nd play of their 2nd drive, and that would be a theme for the night, to make it 14-0.

    On the very 1st play of the Knights 3rd drive, QB Huxley Grose would throw his 1st of 3 interceptions of the game. The Flyers would quickly score their 3rd touchdown in 3 drives.

    A football player in a yellow jersey evades a tackle from a blue jersey player on a grassy field during a game.

    Marion Local would have a bad snap on the PAT, but they managed to get to the edge and actually convert it, into a successful 2-point conversion.

    Crestview would go for it on another 4th down play, and covert with a nice pass from Grose to #7 TE Liam Putman.

    The 1st quarter would end with the Flyers up 22-0.

    Marion Local would score again to make it 29-0 in the 2nd quarter.

    Knights #28 Conner Hammons would get an interception, but it would be a 3 and out.

    The Flyers would score back-to-back touchdowns, and it would be a massive 43-0 halftime lead.

    Scoreboard showing Crestview Knights 0, Guest 43, with 19:48 left in the third quarter.

    The officials would go to a running clock for the 2nd half of the game. It wouldn’t get any better for the Crestview Knights.

    Knights TE Liam Putman would be hurt of the 1st play of the 2nd half. Thankfully, he was able to the sideline under his own power. He would not return to the game.

    Another Flyers touchdown, thanks to some bad tackling attempts makes it 49-0.

    A holding penalty would move the Knights back. Leeth with a 9 yard run to make it 3rd and 9. Marion Local would get the sack forcing another Knights punt.

    Knights DL #57 Aiden Helt would get a big sack on 3rd down to force a Flyers punt.

    Marion Local would down the punt at the 4-yard line. The Knights would fumble the ball shortly afterwards, and the Flyers would return it to the 1-yard line. Another Flyers touchdown would make it 56-0 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

    Crestview Knights varsity football team huddled together on the field before the game.

    The Flyers would get 1 more touchdown on this night, to get a 63-0 win over the Knights.

    Marion Local has now won 66 games in a row. It’s their 50th straight regular season win.

    The Flyers last lost a regular season game, way back on October 18th, 2019, to the Minster Wildcats.

    A group of Crestview Knights football players in yellow and gray uniforms walk off the field under bright stadium lights after a game.

    Knights QB Huxley Grose finished 3 of 10, for 20 yards, and 3 INTs.
    HB Braxton Leetch had 24 carries, for 79 hard earned yards.
    DB Braxtyn Couts led the team with 6 tackles.

    Flyers QB Brennen Hess finished 4 of 6, for 96 yards, with 2 TDs and 1 INT.
    HB Ben Meier had 8 carries, for 110 yards, and 3 TDs.

    I spoke with Crestview head coach Cole Harting after the game.

    Players from the Crestview Knights football team walking on the field during a night game, with stadium lights shining.

    I asked Coach Harting, what are some positives that he and the team could take out of this home opening loss?

    “You know, our kids played hard. I thought we did some good things on offense. Defense is still coming along. We missed some tackles. We knew how good this team was coming in and it showed. We still got a way to go, to get to that point.”

    I asked him if he had any update on injuries to Braxton Leeth and Liam Putman.

    “Yeah, I mean we didn’t want them to take any more extra hits, so we pulled them a bit early. They are our bellcows and we wanted to get them a little bit of extra rest. Nothing to really worry about.”

    Prayers for them.

    A group of Crestview Knights football players and coaches gathered on the field, discussing strategies during a night game.

    The Crestview Knights (1-1) take on rival Wayne Trace Raiders (0-2) next Friday night, at 7:00 PM (EST) at Wayne Trace High School.

    – by Sean McKenize.

    Follow me on X (Twitter) @JoeAmerican6771.

    2 pictures courtesy of…..Richardson Photograpy.

    Stats courtesy of…..Chris Lutz.

  • Crestview Knights Varsity and JV Football Wrap-Up.

    Crestview Knights varsity football team posing for a group photo on the field after a game at night.

    The Crestview Knights varsity team started the 2025 high school football season against rival Parkway, with a big 62-41 to beat the Panthers for the 5th straight season.

    From the opening drive, it was the Braxton Leeth show in Rockford, Ohio.

    The 6’0″, 185 lbs HB/DB, ran by, ran around, and ran through, the Panthers defense, for new school records of 408 yards rushing and scored 7 touchdowns.

    Crestview Knights football player running with the ball during a game, showcasing determination and skill, while a defender falls behind.

    He continues to display the power to break through arms tackles, and the speed to take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

    I spoke to Knights Varsity Head Coach Cole Harting today.

    “Defensively we missed some tackles, so we gotta clean that up. We had a few penalties, which isn’t too bad for a first game. We got some things to work on in practice and get ready for next week.”

    A group of cheerleaders from the Crestview Knights team, posing together in their blue and red uniforms with smiles, on the sidelines of a football game.

    The Knights (1-0) varsity football team will play the 4-time defending state champion Marion Local Flyers (1-0), at home, next Friday night at 7:00 PM.

    On Saturday morning, the Crestview Knights JV team hosted the Parkway Panthers.

    The Panthers started the game on offense. The Knights got a big sack on the third play of the game, forcing a punt. Crestview offense stalled out, after long completion from quarterback #9 Cooper Miller to wide receiver #11 Logan Matson.

    Knights TE/DL #84 Beckham Putman would put Crestview on the board first, with a scoop and score fumble recovery (2 pt attempt failed).

    Crestview Knights football scoreboard showing Knights 6, Guest 0, with 2:50 left in the third quarter.

    The Knights struggled in the first quarter with penalties. They had three offsides calls against them, including one that gave the Panthers a first down.

    In the second quarter, the Knights would get back on the board when an bad snap sailed high. RB/LB #25 Noah Mosier would scoop and score, for the defense to get their second touchdown of the half. (The 2 pt attempt would be successful), to make it a 14-0 game. Crestview would take that lead into halftime.

    Crestview Knights football scoreboard showing the score 14-0, with 9:51 remaining in the third quarter.

    The Knights would start the second half on offense HB/LB #32 Trenton Osborn slashed and gashed his way to a big run on the first play. On fourth down the Knights would commit another penalty. Illegal motion on 4th and 8. Parkway would get the stop on the next play.

    Knights QB #9 Cooper Miller was shaken up on a big hit the following drive and would be done for the rest of the game.

    Parkway would finally get on the scoreboard with a touchdown pass (2 pt attempt failed), to make it a 14-6 game in the 3rd quarter.

    Crestview Knights football game scoreboard showing Knights 14, Guest 6 with 7:40 left in the second quarter.

    In the fourth quarter, the Knights would attempt a fake punt on a fourth down, which the Panthers snuffed out easily.

    The Knights would force a fumble (I missed the number), on a fourth down attempt by Parkway.

    Crestview would finish the scoring for the day, with a trick play touchdown. Knights HB/LB Noah Mosier would score again. Breaking a tackle and taking it the house (2 pt attempt successful), making it a 22-6 game.

    Scoreboard displaying Crestview Knights 22, Guest 6 at the end of a football game, with details of down, yards to go, and quarter.

    It was a sloppy game by the Knights. They struggled with penalties, and QB Cooper Miller threw 2 interceptions before leaving the game with injury.

    The Knights JV team (1-0) will travel down 49-S to take on the Fort Recovery Indians (unknown at press time), next Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    First 3 photos courtesy of…..Wyatt Photograhy.

    Number information courtesy of…..Crestview head coach Cole Hardesty media packet.