Justin Holmes showed he was a big play threat a year ago.

Holmes was the top target for Northwestern’s record-setting quarterback Deven Bollinger, hauling in 31 passes for 810 yards (26.13 yards per catch) and 12 scores. His 810 yards were second among area receivers.

Bollinger’s graduation left the Tigers with a void behind center.

But Holmes has been happy to step in - and put his own spin on the position.

“I think last year we were more of a passing team,” said Holmes, who carried the ball five times for 54 yards last season. “Deven could really throw the ball up there. This year, we definitely evolved into an option team. (Seniors) Nick (Henry) and (Justin) Rodda are great back there. With the triple option, we have three guys that give us the chance to score no matter who has the ball.

“I definitely like the option this year. Rodda and Henry, they started since they were sophomores - Rodda even a little bit as a freshman - so they definitely make me a lot more comfortable back there, and it makes it 10 times easier for the rest of the team.”

Holmes accounted for five touchdowns in Northwestern’s 42-16 win over Wilson last week. The junior ran for 124 yards and three scores, and also threw for 153 yards and a pair of TD passes to earn Times News Football Player of the Week honors.

A year ago, Holmes set a school record with 217 yards receiving on eight catches for three touchdowns in a win over Wilson, a performance that also helped him earn the TN Football Player of the Week award.

His role with the team - much like the offense and the position - have evolved.

“As an offensive coach myself, every year is new, so it’s a blank slate,” said Tigers’ head coach Josh Snyder. “We have sort of a scheme and idea of what we want to do, but we really look at our personnel and see where they’re going to be most successful.

“Obviously, Deven was more of a pocket passer and a downhill runner. Holmes is a little bit more of an athletic guy, can go side-to-side. He’s got a really strong arm, and he can throw it on the run a good bit and get it to our other skill guys.”

Bollinger, who moved on to a Division 1 program at the University of Delaware, completed 131 of 221 pass attempts for 2,105 yards and 35 touchdowns last year, while also carrying the ball 181 times for 1,005 yards and eight scores - the first area player ever to top 2,000 yards passing and rushing for over 1,000. He was the Times News Football Player of the Year the past two seasons.

Holmes learned from one of the best, utilizing his arm and his legs against the Warriors. He scored on runs of 10, 20 and five yards, while his biggest pass play was a 58-yard touchdown to Cade Christopher that helped the Tigers take a 20-7 lead in the second quarter.

A 12-yard pitch-and-catch to Rodda in the fourth quarter capped the Northwestern (2-1) scoring.

It was the Tigers’ first game since a 56-35 loss to Berks Catholic on Sept. 18. after the program was forced to stop practices and miss a game the following week against Bangor due to a positive COVID-19 case.

“I think we were all just excited to get back on the field,” Holmes said. “Because we never know when it’s going to be our last game or anything like that. So we go out there and play like every game’s our last game.”

Holmes’ experience within Snyder’s system has helped ease his transition amid the uncertainty.

“As a freshman, he was our quarterback on the JV team,” said Snyder. “He got a little dinged up, and came back at the end of the year as a receiver, and obviously with Deven, he was practicing at quarterback and doubling up as a receiver. So it’s not that he didn’t know the pass routes or the offense, but until you’re back there in a game and the defense is firing shells at you, you really don’t know how someone is going to handle it.”

Snyder has liked what he’s seen so far.

And Holmes is just starting to hit his stride.

“It’s a good progression for us, to have him wait in the wings, and now as a junior he’s able to take it over,” said Snyder. “He’s mature, he’s ready for it after following behind somebody that could teach him and he could learn from. He had a monster year last year as a receiver ... he’s an athlete. We can really put him anywhere on the field offensively, and he would be successful.”