The NKyTribune is featuring each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2017 season on Friday. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Christopher Decker
NKyTribune contributor
When the Holmes football team’s off-season workout program began in the winter, senior linebacker and offensive lineman Stanley Nicely was playing for the Bulldogs’ basketball team.
Holmes senior Stanley Nicely, No. 57, goes through defensive drills in preseason practice
He didn’t want to miss out on any progress he could be making in football, so Nicely would head to school at 6 a.m. and coach Ben Nevels would put his star player through the workout routines.
“To see him make that investment, that’s how I knew he’s starting to get it and he’s starting to see what it’s going to take,” Nevels said.
“He is putting the pieces together and does a great job of helping to pull in the other guys along with him because he sees the bigger picture of the entire defense. He knows what’s going on. He knows where everybody’s supposed to be.”
Nicely’s senior leadership will be crucial for the Bulldogs, who had a 3-7 record last season and didn’t make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
“Last year was the first time we missed the playoffs in a while, so that one hurt,” Nevels said. “It was tough to not be able to get the seniors there to take that trip and just have another week with them. But I think we grew from it. I think it kind of opened a few eyes.”
While many athletes will point to statistics or big plays they made on the field as their biggest accomplishments, Nicely is striving to become a good team leader.
Holmes coach Ben Nevels
“That’s what I’m most proud of,” he said. “Football we can all go out there and play, but I feel like making an impact on other guys I’m around — like showing them what to do and how to do things in the classroom and on the field — I think that’s what I’m most proud of. Trying to get the younger guys up and be like me some day so they aren’t falling off track.”
As one of 13 seniors on the Holmes roster, Nicely will help players coming up from last year’s junior varsity team make the transition to the varsity starting lineup.
“When he speaks people listen,” Nevels said. “Stanley has stepped into that role of the voice of the players. The kids respect him. He is a great student, and he’s just a really good person on and off the field, which is what we’re striving to build our team around. It’s great to have a guy like him who can guide the team on the field while we are on the sidelines.”
The coach is excited about the talent he has seen from the younger players. One of them is junior quarterback James Walker, who is taking charge of an offense that threw the ball for only 468 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Walker was one of three quarterbacks who saw varsity action last season, mostly in a back-up role. He completed 5 of 18 passes for 118 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I have to start helping my team more,” he said. “I have to get a lot together — taking control of the team, making better reads, being coachable. Coach (Nevels) is always telling me he’s going to make sure I have a 1,000-yard season, but I’m not even focused on that. I’m focused on helping my team.”
Nevels is interested in seeing how his young quarterback will handle the pressure from opposing defenses in his first few games as the starter. The Bulldogs’ season opener will be Aug. 25 on their new synthetic grass field against Brossart.
“We can practice, practice, practice, but you can’t truly replicate the pressure on Friday night until you get into that environment,” Nevels said. “So it’s going to be interesting to see how he responds, but I’m pretty confident.”
HOLMES BULLDOGS
2016 SEASON: 3-7 record, did not qualify for Class 4A playoffs.
DISTRICT: Class 4A, District 7 with Bourbon County, Harrison County, Mason County and Scott.
HEAD COACH: Ben Nevels (14-29 in four seasons at Holmes).
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – BROSSART, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 – at Walton-Verona, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 – BOONE COUNTY, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 – at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 – at Harrison County, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 – HOLY CROSS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 – at Bourbon County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 – MASON COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 – SCOTT, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 – at Newport, 7 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
BISHOP BROSSART MUSTANGS
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
COOPER JAGUARS
SCOTT EAGLES
LUDLOW PANTHERS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
NEWPORT WILDCATS
BOONE COUNTY REBELS
BELLEVUE TIGERS
BEECHWOOD TIGERS
CONNER COUGARS
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS
DIXIE HEIGHTS COLONELS
