2025 Snapshot: Northwest
- Updated: April 21, 2025
Northwest DB Jaylen Lilly (photo by Heather Sauerbeck)
In his first two years as the head coach at Northwest, Brandon Schon has seen his Knights go through angstful growing pains. His once youthful and untested players are now Friday night veterans who are starving to taste success. With eight starters back on offense and 10 returning on defense it appears that Schon and his alma mater are heading towards more prosperous times for the program.
“We have a ton of starters back, most of our 2027 class has been playing varsity since their freshman year and a bulk of our 2026 kids have been varsity starters since their sophomore year. We have a lot of playing experience under our belt,” Schon emphatically states.
Northwest Head Coach Brandon Schon (photo by Heather Sauerbeck)
Schon also loves his squad’s dedication. “This team is making great strides in the weight room. We have seen guys gain more muscle this offseason than we have in the past few years. Our guys are hungry to become the standard at Northwest.”
The biggest hurdle ahead for the Knights is learning how to win. “We haven’t won. So we do not know how to finish games yet,” Schon says. A couple of confidence building road victories early on in 2025 and Northwest will be on its way to conquering that mountain.
Division II, Region 8
2024 RECORD: 2-8, 0-3 SWOC
HEAD COACH: Brandon Schon, 3-17 at Northwest, two years; 3-17 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Hezikiah Kelley, Jr, WR/FS – The heart-and-soul of the Knights. Kelley was named OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Ohio (DB) after getting in on 48 tackles with eight pass breakups and two interceptions as a sophomore. On offense he had 20 receptions for 289 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Kelley has offers from Miami (OH), Toledo and Eastern Michigan.
Northwest WR/FS Hezikiah Kelley (photo by Heather Sauerbeck)
Jaylen Lilly, Jr, DB – A rising star who is on the verge of picking up his first MAC offers and perhaps even larger ones to come. As a first-year starter in the secondary, Lilly tallied 40 tackles, 5.0 tackles for losses, six pass breakups and an interception on his way to being named OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District in 2024.
Travontay Thomas, Sr, DB – Despite only playing in six games as a junior, Thomas impressed enough to earn OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District accolades. He finished with 17 tackles, 2.0 tackles for losses and five pass breakups.
Parker Seibel, Sr, K/P – A special teams weapon who will play a major role in this team’s success. In five games as a junior, Seibel connected on 6/9 extra points, 4/5 field goals including a school record 48-yarder, had five touchbacks on 16 kickoffs and averaged 36.5 yards on 22 punts. He was named OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District (P) for his efforts.
Northwest K/P Parker Seibel (photo by Heather Sauerbeck)
OTHER RETURNEES
Karsyn Curry, Sr, SS – Back for his third season as a starter, Curry has been very opportunistic out of the Knights defensive backfield. He has 71 tackles, a sack, 3.0 tackles for losses and six takeaways (four INTs, two FRs) in his career.
Lauris Barnes, Jr, QB – Look for Barnes to make great strides in his second year as the starter at quarterback. He threw for 701 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.
Northwest QB Lauris Barnes (photo by Heather Sauerbeck)
Micah Kelley, Sr, DE – Will be counted on to be a disruptive force as a pass rusher for the Knights. Kelley has 34 tackles and two sacks in his career.
NEWCOMERS
Schon and the coaching staff are looking for big things out of junior RB Dominque Hill as well as sophomores ATH Airron Rosemond, RB Je’Veon Jackson and WR DJ Akemon. Rosemond showed flashes of his dynamic abilities as a freshman, gaining 158 yards on 11 carries (14.4 yards per carry) with two touchdowns as well as a fumble recovery and an interception on defense.
Northwest DB Jaylen Lilly (photo by Heather Sauerbeck)
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(six appearances, 1-6) – 2022, 2020, 2014, 2013, 2012, 1990
2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – at Wilmington (7-5 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – at Indian Hill (9-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – at Ross (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/12/25 – CARROLL (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – at Woodward (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/26/25 – MOUNT HEALTHY (10-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – at Talawanda (3-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – DUNBAR (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/17/25 – BISHOP WATTERSON (16-0, 2024 Division III state champions) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/24/25 – HARRISON (10-3) – 7:00 PM
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