Ken Winters returns to Toledo on unfamiliar sideline for Fremont Ross

Toledo Whitmer fans might have had to look twice when they saw Ken Winters on the wrong sideline.

After nine years at the helm for the Panthers, Winters brought his new team — Fremont Ross — to Toledo. Whitmer's Jamon Holmes rushed for four touchdowns, including the first snap in the second half in a 49-2 victory over the Little Giants.

"It was a very emotional week," Winters said. "I spent 25 years of my life here. Coming home; they didn't make it a good homecoming."

High school football Nobody is supposed to stand out for Lakota; Jaxon Sommers stands out

Whitmer (3-1) scored three touchdowns in each of the first two quarters. Kayden Moreland intercepted a pass for Ross (1-3).

Memorial Stadium will always be a special place for Winters, who didn't mistakenly go to the wrong locker room.

"My kids grew up here," he said. "Friday night was Whitmer football. A large part of my life was devoted to this place and this community. That's in the past, we move forward."

Current Whitmer assistant Johnny Martin must have been stunned when he saw Winters wearing purple. Martin coached receivers for Winters for eight years and Martin helped with running backs for one season before that.

"It was really weird," Martin said of coaching against Winters instead. "I coached with him for 13 years."

The two remain friends, although the frequency of texts and calls dipped for at least one week.

Winters beat many an opposing coach across from him on the visitors' sideline while Winters was at Whitmer, until 2024. Martin won't be the least bit surprised if Winters nurtures a similar pedigree at Ross.

"He grinds," Martin said. "He coaches hard. He'll get kids out. He'll turn things around; his way."

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

X: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ken Winters returns to Toledo on unfamiliar sideline for Fremont Ross