QB Amari Powell returns, Holland football wins thrilling homecoming in shutout

HOLLAND - Amari Powell has been waiting two weeks to test his knee in a game situation.

It took just two fourth-down plays to show that the Holland senior quarterback was back - really back on the throne.

Powell was named homecoming king at halftime, along with queen Miriam Lopez-Koolhaas, the swim team captain.

On the field, Powell played like a monarch, leading the Dutch to a 37-0 win over Kelloggsville on Friday at Hope College's Ray & Sue Smith Stadium.

"We had the support come out and we got it done," Holland coach Will Siffin said.

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Powell threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Dutch earned their second shutout of the season - the first time they have accomplished that since 1979.

"Since I have been here, we have not won a homecoming game. It meant a lot. It was a great experience," Powell said. "(Winning is a pattern) and that is a really big deal and that fuels us every day. We have two wins and are looking to get a lot more.

"And homecoming king, I didn't think I was going to win. But I love it. My stepdad was homecoming king at his school and it just means a lot to me."

Powell looked healthy on a fourth down midway through the fourth quarter. He danced around a couple of defenders as he wheeled out of the pocket, then found Jojo Morin with a pass down the sideline for a first down.

On another fourth down to star tthe second quarter, Powell rolled left, then threw a strike to the front corner of the end zone to Tailen Luna, who somehow kept his feet in and got across the end zone for a 13-0 lead.

Powell sprained his right knee in third quarter of Week 3 against Holland Christian and missed last week's game as well, a loss to Belding.

"It still hurts but the doctor said I am good as long as I can move as fully as I need to," Powell said. "It was really tough sitting out last week at Belding. They are the OK Silver champs usually every year. So that was tough. But I felt locked in early in the game tonight)."

Jacob Torres opened the scoring with a 48-yard run on Holland's first possession of the game.

Late in the half, Powell found Luna for a 6-yard scoring strike for a 19-0 lead. He hit Luna for an 80-yard strike late in the third, pushing the lead to 37-0.

"He made some good decisions and he was there when we needed him. When you get a special player like that, you just let him run. We have some tests coming up and that's when we need that magic the most," Siffin said.

It wasn't perfect for Powell and the Dutch as there were still some timing issues with receivers and audible play calling, but that is to be expected with anyone coming back into the fold.

He threw an interception that bounced off one of his receiver's hands.

"We were a little off, but my experience with my receivers and with the line helped a lot (to bounce back the next play," he said.

Big defensive performance

Another Powell came up big for Holland, this time on defense.

Arthur Powell grabbed a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in one of the many big plays for the Dutch defense.

The Dutch barely allowed a first down in the first half to the Rockets. Powell and the defensive line were disruptive all night. Morin had a huge sack late in the half that stalled a Rocket drive.

"The defense did an amazing job. I am really proud of them," Siffin said.

Another goal reached

The last time Holland won multiple games in a season was 2018 when the Dutch started 2-0 but ended 2-7 in the powerful OK Green.

The last time Holland won three games was 2017, the last Dutch playoff season where the team went 6-4.

Kingery becoming huge option

Junior Tanner Kingery caught two touchdown passes last week against Belding, and both were sensational.

One was a 99-yard pass from freshman quarterback Eli Wolters. The other was a sensational grab in the corner of the end zone with Kingery flipping over the wall into the stands after the grab, which became a viral video on social media.

He caught some big passes again on Friday, giving Powell another great option along with Luna, Morin and Raymonte Williams. Powell can throw to anyone and have confidence they will make the play, and keep the opposing defenses guessing.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSport s.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: QB Amari Powell returns, Holland football wins thrilling homecoming in shutout