West Holmes hosting Shelby in first-round playoff football
Lynn Cline (9) and his West Holmes teammates open the postseason at home against Shelby on Oct. 28.
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. Friday, Knights Stadium, Millersburg
LAST WEEK: Ontario 35, Shelby 28; West Holmes 49, Mount Vernon 14
THE MATCHUP: West Holmes is making its third consecutive postseason appearance and ninth overall. … Before this three-year stretch, the Knights’ longest playoff streak was two (1992-93 and 99-2000). … West Holmes, which won its first regional title in program history last season, is 13-8 all-time in the postseason. … Shelby is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance and 10th overall. … The Whippets are 12-9 all-time in the postseason, including a state semifinals appearance in 2017. … All their playoff berths have come since 1998. … Led by quarterback Brayden DeVito, Shelby’s offense is averaging 27 points. … DeVito completed 10 of 19 passes for 116 yards and two TDs and rushed for a team-high 33 yards and a score on 15 carries against Ontario. … Grayson Heydinger (two catches, 30 yards) and Isaiah Beck both caught a TD, while Kamdyn Wheeler had two catches for a team-high 48 yards. … Issaiah Ramsey returned a punt 88 yards for a TD for Shelby’s other score. … The Whippets defense has struggled in recent weeks, allowing 34-plus points in four of its final five games. … Shelby is trending in the wrong direction entering Week 11, as it has lost four of five. … West Holmes scored 48-plus points in each of its final six games and is averaging 50.9 points this season. … QB Mason Wolfe has thrown for nearly 2,500 yards and 34 TDs while rushing for three scores. … RB Sam Williams-Dixon has turned 153 carries into 1,220 yards and 23 TDs to pace the ground game. … Kyle Maltarich leads the wideouts with over 1,000 yards receiving and 18 TD catches, while Logan Zollars has nearly 600 yards receiving and eight TD receptions. Nate Fair (four TD catches) and Zevin Proper (three) have also been reliable weapons. … The Knights defense has held all but one opponent (Ashland) to 14 points or less. The unit is allowing 12.2 points per game. … Elisha Baldridge leads the team in tackles. Elijah Williams-Dixon, Owen Jeffries and Jack Marmet are all also near the top in tackles. … Maltarich has a team-high six interceptions, while Collin Gardner leads the team in tackles for loss with seven.