Junior Blue Jay Brock Holmes was named the KMAland Missouri Player of the Year after racking up 2,943 yards and 61 touchdowns this season. (Graphic by Kenny Larabee)

By KMAland’s Trevor Maeder

Brock Holmes’ season for the ages led to a year to remember for Rock Port High School football and its fans. Today, it also earns him the 2025 KMAland Missouri Football Player of the Year.

Holmes was the bellcow of a Rock Port squad that rolled past its first 13 challengers on its way to the program’s first title game since 1990 before heartbreakingly falling to Worth County in the 8-Man title game. While the loss still stings, it certainly doesn’t take away from the memorable year Holmes and his teammates put together. “It was a lot of fun,” Holmes said. “We had a great time. We all worked good together and tried to make each other better. I feel that helped a lot.”

A good chunk of the Blue Jays’ success came behind the stellar running of Holmes. The junior put together one of the best rushing seasons in the Missouri 8-Man football with his 2,943 yards and 61 touchdowns. Both of those numbers rank second in state history behind only Southwest Livingston’s Mack Anderson in 2019. Holmes credits his offensive line of Gabe Gebhards, Ryder Herron, Quentin Jackson and Dayton Hays for paving the way to his historic season. “They helped a lot,” Holmes said. “And our coach (Dalton Jones) had a lot of trust in me.”

Holmes brought an aggressive nature to the Blue Jays’ ground game, seldom going down on first contact and making arm tackles look like a poor choice for the opposition. “I tried to be as physical as I could,” Holmes said. “I just drive my feet and push myself. I don’t want to back down from a fight.”

“Brock has been a fun player to coach,” Rock Port head coach Dalton Jones said. “He works hard in practice and was nearly unstoppable on the field. He ran the ball with an intensity that made him very difficult to tackle. More importantly, he developed into a true leader on and off the field. He held himself and others on the team accountable.”

Holmes’ legendary 2025 season came on the heels of a breakthrough 2024 season, where he rushed for 1,168 yards and 23 touchdowns. He points to his two showings against rival East Atchison as the highlight of his season. Holmes totaled 467 yards and 12 touchdowns against the Wolves, including a 284-yard, 8-touchdown outing in Rock Port’s postseason win. “A lot of them were special,” Holmes said of his highlight-filled season. “But the rivalry games are fun. We just had so much fun together. It was a really nice ride.”

Holmes is the second consecutive Blue Jay to earn the KMAland Missouri Football Player of the Year honor. Former teammate Corbyn Jakub was the recipient of the 2024 award.