Knight Watch: A weekly Nordonia Sports Roundup written by student reporter Christopher Hovanetz, sharing highlights and updates from across Knight Nation — all year long.
Football, both soccer programs and volleyball all find their footing as September opens
Macedonia, OH — It’s been a busy back half of August at Nordonia, with football, both soccer programs, and volleyball all under the lights or on the pitch simultaneously. Here’s the inside look at how every fall squad stands as September opens.
Football: Rolling to 2-0
Two Fridays into the season, and the Knights already look like a different team than the one that finished 8-4 a year ago. This isn’t just a good start — it’s a statement. The Knights have outscored their first two opponents 95-19, and the way they’ve done it says even more than the final scores.
Week 1: A New-Look Offense Announces Itself
Opening night couldn’t have gone much better for Nordonia. The Knights traveled to Akron and dismantled St. Vincent-St. Mary, 49-7, at Boliantz Stadium’s road counterpart, forcing four turnovers and turning them into a steady stream of points.
Senior quarterback Steven Fakult, stepping into his first varsity start under center, threw five touchdown passes — a number that would be a career night for most quarterbacks, let alone a season opener. STVM’s lone answer came on a 37-yard touchdown strike from Will Adamson to Aidan Reynolds, but Adamson otherwise struggled against Nordonia’s defense, finishing 18-of-40 for 241 yards with the Knights picking him off and forcing fumbles that flipped the field all night.
What stood out to anyone watching from the sideline wasn’t just the scoreboard — it was how many different Knights got their hands on the ball. Wide receiver Dominick Jackson factored in on both sides of the turnover battle, and the defense as a whole set the tone early, making STVM one-dimensional and forcing mistakes in bunches.
Photos by Christopher
Week 2: The Encore
If Week 1 was a statement, Week 2 was confirmation. Nordonia hosted East and left no doubt, winning 46-12 to move to 2-0 on the young season. The Knights have now scored at least 46 points in both games — a pace that, if it holds, would represent one of the most explosive starts to a season in recent program history.
By the Numbers
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Overall record | 2-0 (1st, Suburban League – National Conference) |
| Points scored | 95 |
| Points allowed | 19 |
| Average margin of victory | 38 points |
| Home | 1-0 |
| Away | 1-0 |
| Streak | 2W |
| Week | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | @ St. Vincent-St. Mary | W, 49-7 |
| 2 | vs. East | W, 46-12 |
See related article: Nordonia Football Defeats East 46-12 in Week 2 Win
What’s Next
The Knights don’t get much time to enjoy it. Nordonia hosts Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Friday, Sept. 4, before a stretch of conference tests against Highland, Hudson, North Royalton, Solon, Stow-Munroe Falls, Medina, and a road trip to unbeaten Wadsworth — the team that beat Nordonia’s own conference rivals a year ago and looms as the measuring stick in the Suburban League National race.
For a program that made the Division II playoffs last fall and is clearly not satisfied with just getting back in, the next month will show whether this 2-0 start with a first-year starting quarterback is the real deal — or just a hot opening act before the conference gauntlet begins.
Girls Volleyball: 3-2, Riding a Nail-Biting Win Streak
It’s been a grind so far for the Knights, but a rewarding one. Nordonia sits 3-2 early in the season after a five-set battle at Austintown-Fitch on Aug. 29 that ended in a loss, 2-3. Before that, though, the Knights strung together back-to-back-to-back statement wins — a five-set escape over Kenston (3-2), a sweep of Barberton (3-0), and a four-set win over Beaumont School (3-1) — sandwiched around a season-opening sweep loss to Walsh Jesuit (0-3).
Senior outside hitter Addison Lefeld leads the team at 3.7 kills per set, while sophomore middle blocker Maddy Bollas has been the breakout story early — she leads the Knights in hitting percentage (.429), total blocks (14), and serving aces (11), and has already earned Player of the Match honors twice. Sophomore setter Jules Ebert is running the offense with 124 assists on the season, and senior Tatum Hameed anchors the back row at 3.3 digs per set.
By the numbers: 3-2 overall, 0-0 in Suburban League National play (7th)
Up next: Mayfield (Sept. 1) and Copley (Sept. 3), both at home.
Boys Soccer: 1-2 Through Three Matches
It’s been a tale of tight, low-scoring matches for the Knights boys soccer team. Nordonia dropped its opener 1-4 to Stow-Munroe Falls, then lost a heartbreaker to Barberton, 1-2, before bouncing back at home with a 2-1 win over Chardon on Aug. 27 to snap the skid.
Freshman Miles Hackim has been the offensive spark plug right out of the gate, leading the team with 3 goals and 11 shots. Senior Michael Washington has chipped in as the primary playmaker with 0.7 assists per game, and junior goalkeeper Maxwell Washington has been busy in net, averaging 4.5 saves per game.
By the numbers: 1-2 overall, 0-1 in conference
Up next: Kenston on Sept. 1, at home.
Girls Soccer: Heating Up at 2-2
If boys soccer has been a story of close losses, girls soccer has been the opposite — a team finding its scoring touch just in time. After dropping the opener 1-3 to Lake and falling 0-2 to Berea-Midpark, the Knights have turned it around in a big way, outscoring their last two opponents 11-2: a 5-0 shutout of Barberton on Aug. 26, followed by a 6-2 statement win at Harding on Aug. 29.
See related article: Lady Knights Stay Hot, Roll Past Warren Harding 6-2
The turnaround has also lifted Nordonia’s national and state rankings, currently sitting No. 188 in Ohio and No. 32 in Division II, up 37 spots nationally in the latest poll.
By the numbers: 2-2 overall, 1-0 in conference (1st place)
Up next: At Kenston (Sept. 2), then home against Hoover (Sept. 5).
Around the Rest of the Fall Slate
Cross country and golf are both underway as well, with the Knights’ runners opening their season at invitationals across the region.
FAQs
1. What is Nordonia football’s record this season?
The Knights are 2-0 and sit first in the Suburban League National Conference.
2. Who leads Nordonia volleyball in kills per set?
Senior outside hitter Addison Lefeld leads the team at 3.7 kills per set.
3. Where does Nordonia girls soccer rank statewide?
The Knights sit No. 188 in Ohio and No. 32 in Division II.
4. When does Nordonia football play next?
Nordonia hosts Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Friday, Sept. 4.
5. What is boys soccer’s record through three matches?
Nordonia boys soccer is 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference.
