Brainerd junior lineman Keiyashawn Holiday usually makes the big blocks up front to spring his teammates loose to make plays, but in Saturday's home win over Howard, the big man provided a game-changing swing of momentum with the football in his hands.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Holiday intercepted a swing pass with one hand and raced down the left sideline for a 26-yard touchdown to begin the Panthers' 14-point second quarter that made all the difference.
Brainerd defeated the Hustlin' Tigers for the fourth year in a row, this time with a 14-12 victory.
"Keiyashawn's pick-six gave us the spark we needed," Brainerd first-year head coach Sammy Seamster said. "I am honestly thinking about moving him to defensive back. He is mostly an offensive lineman for us, but we had a couple of guys go down (injured), so he stepped up big for us putting his hand out there and making a great grab on that interception."
The Class 3A Panthers (3-5) scored all of their points in less than four minutes. After Holiday's defensive takeaway tied the game, a safety provided the home team's first lead as a long snap went high and bounced through the back of the end zone.
Brainerd then recovered an onside kick and stretched its lead to 14-6 with 4:29 to play before halftime as junior Jayun Smith drove his way past a defender at the left pylon to complete an 8-yard touchdown run.
"A win like this takes everything you've got," Holiday said. "If you play as physical as both teams did today, you are going to come out with injuries. You have to give it all and then more. It was tough. I could barely breath out there at times, but I gave it 120%. We want to keep this win streak going."
Class 5A Howard (1-7) had a formidable rushing attack led by seniors Jaron Bell and Ja'carion Sanders.
Bell provided the power runs with 12 carries for 51 yards, including a touchdown run of 9 yards after he was given an extra surge by his massive offensive line to cut the Hustlin' Tigers' deficit to 14-12 three minutes into the third quarter.
Sanders led all with 19 carries for 83 yards, which included a 4-yard touchdown run up the middle for the game's opening score with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
"Their run game was real tough and pushed us," Seamster said. "We had to get the guys to anchor down and make some plays. Jaquez Poole and Jordan Smith made some big plays defensively, and we overcame losing four fumbles on offense.
"This win is big for the Brainerd community and the kids. They were locked in and made the plays they had to in key spots."
Derrion Calloway led the Panthers with 69 rushing yards on 13 carries, which included a 29-yard run in the third quarter for the game's longest play.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.