Zeeland West running back Brandon Holman (6) breaks loose for a 67-yard touchdown run shortly before halftime of last Friday’s win, as Cam Brouwer (2) is about to deliver a key block and Ethan Malec (55) provides support.
Photo courtesy Angela Howe Creations
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A historic night for Zeeland West All-State halfback Brandon Holman led to a historic win for the Dux last Friday night.
Holman scored a school record-tying six touchdowns as West romped to a 56-20 homecoming victory over Forest Hills Central at Zeeland Stadium. It was the 200th all-time win for the Dux since the West football program began in 2005.
The Dux (7-1), who are No. 8 in the state Division 3 playoff points standings, close out regular season play this Friday night at Spring Lake.
Holman tied the school record for most touchdowns in a game set by Keaton Hendricks in the 2024 Division 3 state championship game against Detroit Martin Luther King.
After the Dux defense forced a three-and-out to start the game, Holman dashed 85 yards down the near sideline on West’s first play from scrimmage. Cam Brouwer ran in the two-point conversion as West took a quick 8-0 lead.
The Rangers answered with a 3-yard touchdown run by Judah Slendebroek, then took a 14-8 lead early in the second quarter when Kellen Paul found Finn Brunink wide open for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
The Dux tied the score on a 6-yard touchdown run by Holman with 4:38 left in the first half. Moments later, West came up with a play that would be the game’s turning point.
With the ball just shy of midfield, Paul threw a swing pass toward an FHC receiver in the flat. The ball landed a yard behind the line of scrimmage, but the players initially reacted as if it were an incomplete forward pass.
However, the whistle never sounded. Holman saw the ball on the turf, scooped it up and ran 46 yards untouched for his third touchdown.
“Coach (Ryan) VanDort was screaming at me and yelling at me to pick it up,” Holman said. “I didn’t realize (it was a lateral), but then it just clicked. I didn’t hear a whistle. I just picked it up and ran.”
The Rangers drove inside the West 30 on the ensuing possession, but the Dux held and took over on downs with 26 seconds left in the half.
Two plays later, Holman took a direct snap, blew through a hole opened by senior linemen Eli Chavez and Grady Patrick, picked up another block by Brouwer downfield and raced 67 yards for a touchdown. The Dux led 30-14 at the half.
West then erased any hope of an FHC comeback with a pair of touchdowns in the first three minutes of the second half. Senior quarterback Drew Albrecht connected with Holman on a 32-yard touchdown pass. Then 49 seconds later, senior Logan Nash returned an interception 22 yards for a score – West’s fifth touchdown in a span of seven minutes of play.
Kenny Howe III added a 4-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter, and Holman capped off his big night with an 80-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter for his sixth touchdown. Holman finished the game with more than 370 yards of all-purpose yardage, including 216 rushing yards on just nine carries.
“I just give credit to the 10 other guys out there,” Holman said. “Cam Brouwer, on that last play before halftime, made a great block on that safety. Those type of plays – they rely on 10 other people and not just me.”
Howe added 82 yards on seven carries. Defensively, junior Luke Walters recorded two quarterback sacks for the Dux.
Zeeland Record
A historic night for Zeeland West All-State halfback Brandon Holman led to a historic win for the Dux last Friday night.
Holman scored a school record-tying six touchdowns as West romped to a 56-20 homecoming victory over Forest Hills Central at Zeeland Stadium. It was the 200th all-time win for the Dux since the West football program began in 2005.
The Dux (7-1), who are No. 8 in the state Division 3 playoff points standings, close out regular season play this Friday night at Spring Lake.
Holman tied the school record for most touchdowns in a game set by Keaton Hendricks in the 2024 Division 3 state championship game against Detroit Martin Luther King.
After the Dux defense forced a three-and-out to start the game, Holman dashed 85 yards down the near sideline on West’s first play from scrimmage. Cam Brouwer ran in the two-point conversion as West took a quick 8-0 lead.
The Rangers answered with a 3-yard touchdown run by Judah Slendebroek, then took a 14-8 lead early in the second quarter when Kellen Paul found Finn Brunink wide open for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
The Dux tied the score on a 6-yard touchdown run by Holman with 4:38 left in the first half. Moments later, West came up with a play that would be the game’s turning point.
With the ball just shy of midfield, Paul threw a swing pass toward an FHC receiver in the flat. The ball landed a yard behind the line of scrimmage, but the players initially reacted as if it were an incomplete forward pass.
However, the whistle never sounded. Holman saw the ball on the turf, scooped it up and ran 46 yards untouched for his third touchdown.
“Coach (Ryan) VanDort was screaming at me and yelling at me to pick it up,” Holman said. “I didn’t realize (it was a lateral), but then it just clicked. I didn’t hear a whistle. I just picked it up and ran.”
The Rangers drove inside the West 30 on the ensuing possession, but the Dux held and took over on downs with 26 seconds left in the half.
Two plays later, Holman took a direct snap, blew through a hole opened by senior linemen Eli Chavez and Grady Patrick, picked up another block by Brouwer downfield and raced 67 yards for a touchdown. The Dux led 30-14 at the half.
West then erased any hope of an FHC comeback with a pair of touchdowns in the first three minutes of the second half. Senior quarterback Drew Albrecht connected with Holman on a 32-yard touchdown pass. Then 49 seconds later, senior Logan Nash returned an interception 22 yards for a score – West’s fifth touchdown in a span of seven minutes of play.
Kenny Howe III added a 4-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter, and Holman capped off his big night with an 80-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter for his sixth touchdown. Holman finished the game with more than 370 yards of all-purpose yardage, including 216 rushing yards on just nine carries.
“I just give credit to the 10 other guys out there,” Holman said. “Cam Brouwer, on that last play before halftime, made a great block on that safety. Those type of plays – they rely on 10 other people and not just me.”
Howe added 82 yards on seven carries. Defensively, junior Luke Walters recorded two quarterback sacks for the Dux.
Chix Downed By Sailors, Face Must-Win Game
The Zeeland East varsity football team is facing a must-win situation this Friday night at home against Hamilton if the Chix are to qualify for the state playoffs.
The Chix saw their record drop to 4-4 last Friday as they fell to Grand Rapids South Christian 45-14 at East Kentwood High School’s Falcon Stadium.
East currently is holding onto the 32nd and final spot in the Division 3 playoff points standings, less than a point ahead of Riverview, a school from the Detroit area. The top 32 teams in the standings after this Friday’s games qualify for the playoffs.
South Christian jumped out to an early 17-0 lead before the Chix were able to get on the board before halftime on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Will Drnek to Isaiah Boonstra, cutting the Sailors’ lead to 17-7. But that would be as close as East would get.
South Christian scored the next 28 points in sealing the win that gave the Sailors the outright O-K Gold Conference championship. East got a 8-yard touchdown pass from Drnek to Payton Sackett in the fourth quarter.
Drnek completed 12 of 18 passes for 86 yards for the Chix, with Boonstra catching eight passes for 50 yards. Sackett rushed for 103 yards on 21 carries.
The Chix saw their record drop to 4-4 last Friday as they fell to Grand Rapids South Christian 45-14 at East Kentwood High School’s Falcon Stadium.
East currently is holding onto the 32nd and final spot in the Division 3 playoff points standings, less than a point ahead of Riverview, a school from the Detroit area. The top 32 teams in the standings after this Friday’s games qualify for the playoffs.
South Christian jumped out to an early 17-0 lead before the Chix were able to get on the board before halftime on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Will Drnek to Isaiah Boonstra, cutting the Sailors’ lead to 17-7. But that would be as close as East would get.
South Christian scored the next 28 points in sealing the win that gave the Sailors the outright O-K Gold Conference championship. East got a 8-yard touchdown pass from Drnek to Payton Sackett in the fourth quarter.
Drnek completed 12 of 18 passes for 86 yards for the Chix, with Boonstra catching eight passes for 50 yards. Sackett rushed for 103 yards on 21 carries.
On the Record
Dux Nip HC in District Boys Soccer, Chix Fall
Zeeland West got two goals from Owen Frego last Thursday night as the Dux edged Holland Christian 2-1 in a Division 2 boys soccer district opener at the Janssen Sports Complex.
The win moved the Dux (9-6-2) onto a district semifinal contest against Holland that was played Wednesday night at Spring Lake. The Dutch advanced last Thursday by blanking Zeeland East 2-0. The Chix finished the season with a record of 6-10-3.
The winner of the West-Holland game will advance to the district championship Saturday at Spring Lake against the winner of the other semifinal between Fruitport and Allendale. The winner of the district will move on to the regional at Big Rapids next week.
West Volleyball Falls to Hawkeyes on Senior Night
The Zeeland West varsity volleyball team put up a battle against a strong Hamilton team last Thursday on Senior Night, but fell to the Hawkeyes in a sweep, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20.
The Dux fell to 21-14 overall with the loss, 3-7 in the O-K Black Conference.
Molly Settlemyre led the Dux with seven kills for the match while Sadie Kragt added five.
The Dux honored seniors Kragt, Jenna Hendricks, Halle Reider, Hannah VanderZwaag, and Brielle Carlson for all their hard work throughout the season.
West was to play Spring Lake on the road on Tuesday night.
East Volleyball Stays Unbeaten in Conference
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team remained unbeaten in O-K Black Conference play Oct. 13 with a sweep of Spring Lake, 30-28, 25-21, 25-17.
The Chix improved to 9-0 in conference play and 25-4 overall.
East was to host Holland Christian in a battle for first place in the O-K Black Tuesday night. It was also Alumni Night for past members of the Chix program.
Zeeland West got two goals from Owen Frego last Thursday night as the Dux edged Holland Christian 2-1 in a Division 2 boys soccer district opener at the Janssen Sports Complex.
The win moved the Dux (9-6-2) onto a district semifinal contest against Holland that was played Wednesday night at Spring Lake. The Dutch advanced last Thursday by blanking Zeeland East 2-0. The Chix finished the season with a record of 6-10-3.
The winner of the West-Holland game will advance to the district championship Saturday at Spring Lake against the winner of the other semifinal between Fruitport and Allendale. The winner of the district will move on to the regional at Big Rapids next week.
West Volleyball Falls to Hawkeyes on Senior Night
The Zeeland West varsity volleyball team put up a battle against a strong Hamilton team last Thursday on Senior Night, but fell to the Hawkeyes in a sweep, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20.
The Dux fell to 21-14 overall with the loss, 3-7 in the O-K Black Conference.
Molly Settlemyre led the Dux with seven kills for the match while Sadie Kragt added five.
The Dux honored seniors Kragt, Jenna Hendricks, Halle Reider, Hannah VanderZwaag, and Brielle Carlson for all their hard work throughout the season.
West was to play Spring Lake on the road on Tuesday night.
East Volleyball Stays Unbeaten in Conference
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team remained unbeaten in O-K Black Conference play Oct. 13 with a sweep of Spring Lake, 30-28, 25-21, 25-17.
The Chix improved to 9-0 in conference play and 25-4 overall.
East was to host Holland Christian in a battle for first place in the O-K Black Tuesday night. It was also Alumni Night for past members of the Chix program.
