The Next Test
Previewing Holy Cross vs Weimar
Fresh off their first win of the season, a 33-17 statement in the Holy Bowl, the Holy Cross Knights (1-2) now face a different kind of challenge: a road matchup vs the Weimar Wildcats. Where Central Catholic brought rivalry and big plays under a big atmosphere, Weimar brings a grind-it-out, run-first style that tests a team’s toughness for four straight quarters. For the Knights, this week isn't about flash; it's about grit.
Momentum is everything in football, and Holy Cross is coming off a game where its offense finally clicked on all levels. Sophomore QB Rocky Orozco accounted for five touchdowns in the Holy Bowl, senior ATH Julian “J.R.” Salas hauled in three, and senior RB Taylor Flores brought in 181 rushing yards on 28 carries. But against a team like Weimar, sustaining drives, limiting mistakes, and winning the line of scrimmage may prove just as important as highlight plays.
Last week, head coach Mike Harrison had this to say about the team's Holy Bowl win and what it provides moving forward: “We play an incredibly tough Weimar team; Weimar is loaded, they’ve got a great group of returners, they run an offense that is very unusual, so its gonna take a lot of effort on our part to get used to it. With that being said, this win, the Holy Bowl, gives us a lot of momentum moving forward and a good feeling.”
Weimar is a team that wants to run the football and make you play their game. They’ll try to control the clock, lean on their physical style, and wear teams down late. For Holy Cross, that means being sharp on defense, staying disciplined up front, and tackling well for four straight quarters.
On offense, the Knights will look to carry over what worked in the Holy Bowl. Rocky has shown he can make plays both in the air and on the ground, while Taylor continues to be the tone-setter with his physical running.
But more than schemes or stats, this matchup will test Holy Cross’s ability to back up their rivalry win with consistency. Last week proved that the Knights can rise to the occasion in the city’s brightest spotlight. This week will prove if they can grind out a victory in hostile territory against a team built to test their toughness.
For Holy Cross, The Next Test is not just about adding another win to the record. It’s about showing they can win in more than one way, under the lights of the Holy Bowl, or in the grit and grind of a Friday night in Weimar, Texas.
