The Lady Knights were back at home to start the week, taking on the Minster Wildcats, in their 3rd straight non-conference matchup.
The teams would trade points back and forth, before the Lady Wildcats rattle off 5 straight points to make it 9-5. Both teams continued to trade points, and it would be an 11-11 tie game. 2 more even point plays, then Minster would go on another 5 point run to make it 18-13.
The Lady Knights would go on a massive rally, winning the next 9 straight points, and jump out to their first lead of the set, 22-18. The Lady Wildcats would answer back with 3 straight points, forcing Crestview head coach Tammy Gregory to call a timeout, holding onto a 1 point lead at 22-21.
The break worked out well for them, as they’d win the next 2 straight points, and win the first set 25-22.
The 2nd set would start out rough for the Lady Knights, as the Lady Wildcats jumped out leads of 7-2 and 10-4 before, once again, Crestview had to call a timeout. Points 9 and 10 for the Lady Wildcats came after the Lady Knights, committed back-to-back net infractions.
Minster would win the next point, with Crestview making a substitution. Crestview would bring it to 13-7, before a LONG rally between the teams, which had multiple digs and saves. The Lady Wildcats would win this point, and the fans from both teams applauded the efforts of the ladies.
Minster would get the score up to 17-11, before the Lady Knights would get rallies of 3 straight and 4 straight, to make it 19-18, and force the Lady Wildcats to call a timeout. Once again, the teams would trade points, as an ACE by the Knights would tie it up at 22-22, and Minster would call its final timeout. It would be for naught, as the Lady Knights would win the last 3 straight points and win the 2nd set 25-22.
The Lady Knights would start off the 3rd set with 3 straight points, forcing Minster to call an early timeout. The Lady Wildcats would score 2 straight coming out of the break.
The Lady Knights answered right back with 5 straight points of their own, making it a 9-2 lead. Both teams would trade points and small 2 point rallies, before Minster called their last timeout down 15-7.
The break would work for them, as they scored 4 straight points, forcing Crestview to call a timeout with a 15-7 lead. The Lady Wildcats would never recover, and they would eventually lose the 3rd and final set 25-18, for a straight sets victory.
It is the first win of the season for the Lady Knights, who are now 1-2.
After the game, I spoke to Crestview Lady Knights head Coach Tammy Gregory.
I asked her how she and the team felt, to finally get that first win of the season.
“It feels good. It was really good for our confidence. You look at our schedule, and we face a state ranked team in Coldwater on Tuesday, and we played with a lot of confidence tonight”.
I asked her about the rallies by both teams. What she says to the girls, when those momentum swings happen.
“We practice those a lot actually. we know there are a couple of rotations that we struggle with more than others. It’ll be the same thing with every team we face. We just got to practice, and we’ll get that trust, and it’ll pop, and come up looking great”.
Leading the way for the Lady Knights…
Serving
Kaci Gregory 11/11 with 1 ace
Delanie Balliet 10/10 with 1 ace
Ayla Kreischer 14/15 with 2 aces
Kenadie Schwartz 17/18 with 1 ace
Hitting
Kaci Gregory 13 kills
Alecta Baxter & Kaylee Owens 5 kills each
Ayla Kreischer & Kenadie Schwartz 4 kills each
Setting
Nora Perkins 17 assists
Kinley Crider 8 assists
Digs
Ayla Kreischer 12 digs
Kaci Gregory 10 digs
Blocks
Alecta Baxter, Kaylee Owens, Kenadie Schwartz 2 stuff blocks each
The Lady Knights have a quick turnaround, as they return to action tomorrow night at Coldwater, with JV starting things off at 5:30 PM.
Walking into the hallway of Crestview, I was immediately greeted by the smell of popcorn and pizza. Which was such a kick in the pants, since my doctors put me on a strict diet. LOL.
Kids were running around the hallway, full of energy adults wish they had. Parents chatting like they hadn’t seen each other since…. Friday night’s football game.
The Crestview Lady Knights Volleyball team were opening their season at home, against the Paulding Panthers, in a non-conference game.
With the high school gymnasium under renovation until late September, the games are being played in the middle school. Despite that, it was a full house. Old and young, even some former players stopped by for the game.
The Lady Panthers went up quickly 3-0 in the first set, and didn’t let up at all, winning it easily, 25-13.
The second set started with both teams at one point apiece, when the floor official stopped play, called both of the team captains over to him, and had some words. There was a lot of net entanglements, and a small bit of chatter.
Afterwards, the teams traded points back and forth. Crestview scored 3 straight points, before Paulding called a timeout down 13-11. They continued to trade points, until Crestview called at timeout, up 19-18. The Lady Knights would end up winning the 2nd set 25-23.
The Panthers would jump out to a 6-0 lead, forcing Knights head coach Tammy Gregory to call a timeout early.
The two huddles were completely different. Gregory was calmly coaching her girls, using her hands to show proper bump techniques and overhands.
Panthers head coach Emily Taylor was enthusiastic and praising her girls for such a hot start.
Unfortunately, for the Lady Knights, the timeout did not stop the momentum right away, as the Lady Panthers promptly made it a 13-2 game. Finally, Crestview would go on their own run, as they’d score 6 straight points, forcing a Panthers timeout.
The Knights would get the score to 16-13, before Paulding would play the Reverse Uno card, and rattle off 4 straight to make it 20-16. Nothing would work for the Knights afterwards, dropping the 3rd set 25-16.
The 4th set would start off with more point trading. The Lady Knights would win a long rally, where both teams showed off tremendous athleticism and stamina, to make it a 3-3 score.
Paulding would win the next point and never let up the rest of the way.
Crestview made it close a few times, cutting the lead to 13-12, 18-16, and 20-17. The Panthers were simply too relentless. Scoring the final 5 points and winning the match 25-17.
I spoke to Crestview Head Coach Tammy Gregory after the game. I asked her what positives, she and the team could take away from the loss.
“We were at a size disadvantage. We were struggling with their size and aggressive attacks. I’m going to go to that third game of the match. You know, we were down, and we could’ve folded very easily, but we fought back.”
There are only 2 seniors on this team. However, a lot of the underclassman, got significant playing time last season. I asked if she expected their continued improvement to really help the team as the season continues.
“I think they’re going to step into their roles very well. What I like about this team, is they have good mentorship and they’re competitors. They have that team chemistry, their drive, and they’re there for each other. They’re going to get better, and they have the drive for that work.”
Leading the way for the Lady Knights…
Serving
Kaci Gregory 13/14 with 2 aces
Lainey Gardner 11/12 with 1 ace
Nora Perkins 10/11 with 1 ace
Ayla Kreischer 10/11 with 1 ace
Hitting
Kaci Gregory 16 kills
Kenadie Schwartz 8 kills
Ayla Kreischer 7 kills
Setting
Nora Perkins 30 assists
Digs
Kaci Gregory 12 digs
Ayla Kreischer 8 digs
Nora Perkins 6 digs
Blocks
Kaylee Owens 2 blocks
Kenadie Schwartz 2 blocks
The Crestview Lady Knights are back on the court this Thursday, as they travel to New Bremen, in another non-conference matchup.
The Crestview Knights were hosting the #4 ranked Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds.
The Knights needed a win, and some help to make the playoffs.
The Thunderbirds were just hoping to avoid an upset, as they had already clinched a playoff spot.
The Knights defense dropped LCC for a 4-yard loss on the first play of the game.
LCC answered right back with runs of 10 and 9 yards, before a false start penalty would set them back 5.
They’d connect on a 7-yard pass, before Thunderbird head coach Colin Stolly called a timeout with 8:41 remaining in the first quarter.
LCC went right back to the ground and pound, with runs of 5, 3, 2, 28, 4, and 0, before a 5-yard TD run by Lausen Flores. PAT was good, and it was a 7-0 Thunderbird lead with 4:41 left is the first.
The Knights first drive of the game, would feature their strength, the run game.
HB Braxton Leeth would have runs of 4 yards, 1 yard, and 8 yards, on the first three plays.
An incomplete pass, a 1-yard loss, and a WR run for 3 yards by Hayden Perrott, would put the Knights in a 4th and 7 from the 48-yard line.
Crestview would catch LCC with an encroachment penalty, would make it a 4th and 2 now.
The Thunderbirds would answer the call and stop Leeth for no gain, causing the Knights to turn the ball over on downs.
On the very next ensuing play, LCC HB Xavier Pernell would take the ball 54 yards to the house. PAT was good, and the Thunderbirds were up 14-0, with :21 seconds remaining. That would be the final score of the quarter.
Leeth would run for 3 and a first down.
A pass for no gain, a 2-yard by Leeth would make it 3rd and 8.
Knights head coach Cole Harting would call a timeout with 9:56 left in the 2nd quarter.
Knights QB Huxley Grose would connect with HB Leeth for a 14-yard pass, but it was negated by a Crestview penalty (illegal man downfield), and it was now 3rd and 13.
A 22-yard pass from Grose to Perrott would give the Knights a first down.
Leeth had quick runs of 2 and 3 yards.
A high snap led to a big 11-yard loss on third down.
The Knights would go for it on 4th and 15, but QB Huxley Grose would fumble the football. The Thunderbirds recovered at the 46-yard line.
Once again, it would be a 1 play scoring drive for the Thunderbirds, as QB Brady Parker would connect with WR Mike Quatman on a 54-yard touchdown pass. PAT was good, and the lead was extended to 21-0 with 6:43 remaining in the half.
Crestview plays of 2 yards, 1 yard, 11 yards, -2 yards, 7 yards, and 3 yards, would bring it to another 4th and 2.
Coach Harting would call his 2nd timeout of the half, with 2:29 left in the half.
QB Huxley Grose would run a keeper, but only gain 1 yard, and once again, the Knights would turn the ball over on downs.
LCC would run for 5 yards, before suffering a 1-yard loss to make it 3rd and 6, from the 46-yard line.
They’d connect on a pass (I missed the numbers). An incomplete pass and Thunderbird head coach would call a timeout with :36 seconds left in the half.
A Knights defensive pass interference penalty (bad call, should’ve been OPI), made it 1st and 10 at the 24-yard line.
An incomplete pass and a 5-yard loss would force LCC to call its final timeout of the half with :11 seconds left.
Another incomplete pass, and the Thunderbirds took a 21-0 lead into the locker room.
The Knights would get the ball to start the 2nd half of the game.
They’d start deep in their own end, after being stopped quickly on a Knights special teams mistake.
With the ball on their own 19-yard line, Crestview would have to drive the length of the field.
HB Braxton Leeth would pop off, with a 59-yard run on the first play of the half.
A penalty on the next play would make it 1st and 15.
An incomplete pass and a Leeth 6-yard run, would make it 4th and 9, from the 29.
The Knights would get the first down on a reverse for 11 yards.
Runs of 5 yards and 6 yards, then a shovel pass inside to TE Liam Putman for 4.
Leeth would run for no gain. Back-to-back runs by Leeth on 3rd and 4th down would end in no points, as the Thunderbirds stopped the Knights at the 2-yard line. Another turnover on downs for the Knights.
With a long field of their own, the Thunderbirds would go on a long drive.
Pass of 8 yards to start the series.
Runs of 6 yards, 3 yards, 6 yards, 9, yards, a 10-yard pass, run of 7 yards, 18 yards, and then an 8-yard run.
A holding penalty on LCC would negate a run, and make it 2nd and 12 from the 32-yard line.
A 1-yard run, and incomplete pass, would make it 4th and 11, from the 31-yard line.
A bad snap over the head of Thunderbirds QB Brady Parker, forced an interception by Knights WR/DB Hayden Perrott.
The Thunderbirds would take a 21-0 lead, into the 4th quarter.
HB Braxton Leeth would run for 8 yards.
A LCC penalty (personal foul) would tack on 15 more yards, and the Knights were quickly at the 42-yard line.
A 3-yard run, followed by a 23-yard pass, had them in scoring position.
An incomplete pass by Grose, then a 13-yard run by Leeth.
Leeth would be hurt on the next play, after a 1-yard run.
Crestview would finally get on the board, when Hayden Perrott took a jet sweep for 9 yards to the endzone. The PAT no was good, and it was now a 21-6 game with 8:26 left in the 4th quarter.
The Knights would recover the onside kick, and start on the 44 yard line.
They’d start with a 1-yard loss, then Huxley Grose would find Hayden Perrott for a 19-yard gain, to the 25 yard line.
Leeth would run for 1 yard on 1st down, an incomplete pass on 2nd down, and a pass for no gain on 3rd down, had the Knights facing a 4th and 9, at the 24.
Once again, QB Huxley Grose would find WR Hayden Perrott, as he went up and over, not 1, not 2, but 3, Thunderbirds to pull in a 24-yard TD pass, his 2nd of the game. PAT was good. It was now a 21-13, with 5:59 left in the game.
The Knights lined up for another onsides kick.
The Thunderbirds knew it was coming. Everyone in the stands knew it was coming.
We all watched, as the improbable, become reality, as the Knights recovered another onsides kick, as the ball took a high bounce on that needed second hop.
The crowd, which had been mostly quiet during the game, was now loud as I had heard them all season long. The coaches and players on the sidelines were jumping and cheering. All the momentum had turned in favor of the Knights.
QB Huxley Grose would find HB Braxton Leeth on a 16-yard pass to the 30-yard line.
Leeth would take the next play 13 yards on a run, to the 17-yard line.
LCC would take a timeout with 5:00 minutes remaining in the game.
A Grose incomplete pass, and runs of 5 yards, and 2 yards, put the Knights in a pivotal 4th and 2, at the 10-yard line.
Knights head coach Cole Harting would call a timeout, to talk it over, with 3:31 in the game.
With the momentum going against them, the Thunderbird defense took the field, knowing exactly what needed to be done.
The Knights decided to ride with what had led them to 6 wins in 9 games.
They handed the ball off to HB Braxton Leeth, but the LCC defense, stood its’ ground, and made the stop when they needed it the most.
Despite the Knights using their last two timeouts, the Thunderbirds were able to run out the clock and get the hard fought 21-13 win, and clinch a 1st round bye in the OSHAA playoffs. The loss officially eliminated the Knights from playoff contention.
QB Huxley Grose finished the game 11 of 16, for 118 yards, and 1 TD. HB Braxton Leeth had 28 carries, for 144 yards. WR Hayden Perrott had 5 catches, for 87 yards, and 2 total TDs and an INT. Luke Eggleston had 8 total tackles.
I spoke to Knights head coach Cole Harting after the game about the game.
“Well, you know, it really starts with the seniors and the amount of work that they put in these last four years. I was telling them afterwards, that when I got this job three years ago, those guys were the best class we had.”
I asked about those seniors and being honored, here on Senior Day.
“When it came to accountability, and just showing up to workouts and the amount of work it takes, and if you’re willing to do that. They showed all of it. That’s what I really take away from this group of seniors. I’m just really proud to have had the opportunity to coach these guys.”
(One final huddle for the 8 outgoing seniors, as family and friends gather. There were a lot of hugs and tears, as emotions were high).
I personally saw them practice onsides kicks, when I covered the team in the summer, I asked him about those kicks.
“Yeah, you know, there’s always a weird one, but we were fortunate. Hayden did a great job of really getting a nice bounce on those balls, and our team did a fantastic job of getting after it, and getting down there. They were willing to stick there nose in there and go get the ball.”
(Senior captain HB Braxton Leeth leads the Knights, into the locker room, for the final time in his career).
