Preview: Princeton at Lakota West

Even though it is just the fourth week of the season and the Blitz 5 Game of the Week has the GMC championship on the line as Princeton invades Lakota West. The home team and their excellent defense will be tested to the max by a very explosive Vikings’ offense.

This has all the ingredients to be an instant classic. Grab your keys, take a drive and buy a ticket for what promises to be one of the most entertaining Friday nights of the year.  

#3 PRINCETON VIKINGS (3-0, 0-0) at #2 LAKOTA WEST FIREBIRDS (2-1, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Firebirds Stadium
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sophomore quarterback TJ Engleman has been sensational for Princeton. He has amassed 1,076 yards of total offense (601 pass, 470 rush), accounted for 15 touchdowns (eight pass, seven rush) while completing 66.7 percent of his passes and averaging 12.1 yards per carry. Senior receivers Rodney Harris II and Isaiah Meyers Jr. have combined for 14 catches for 323 yards and five touchdowns. Justin Wimpye leads the GMC with three interceptions. Classmate MiQuise Humphrey- Grace tops the conference with 3.5 sacks.

The Lakota West roster is blessed with two Ohio State commits, offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola, defensive back Jyaire Brown, Kentucky commit safety Alex Afari and Buffalo commit defensive lineman Bryan Henderson. Brown also leads the Firebirds with eight receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. Senior Aden Miller, a Third Team All-Ohio selection in 2021, has a team-high 18 total tackles.

TEAM TRENDS: Princeton is averaging 498.7 yards (298.3 pass, 200.3 rush) of total offense per game. The Vikings’ defense is giving up 29.7 points and 300.0 yards of total offense per contest. The good news is that they have been stellar against the run holding foes to (-16) yards on 54 carries so far this season.

The Lakota West offense is heating up. The Firebirds have had back-to-back 40-point outputs for the first time since the last week of September and first week of October in 2015. 

Since the beginning of October 2019, Lakota West is 14-4 with two of those losses in the playoffs to eventual state champion St. Xavier (2020) and state runner-up Elder (2019). In that span the Firebirds defense has held 15 opponents to 17 points or less, 10 to seven points or fewer with five shutouts. 

HEAD COACHES:
Princeton: Andre Parker (3-0 at Princeton, first year, 80-35 overall, 12th year)

Lakota West: Tom Bolden (17-6 at Lakota West, third year; 150-27 overall, 16th year) 

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Princeton (16 appearances, 20-13) – 2020, 2019, 2007, 2001, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990 (State runner-up), 1988 (State Runner-up), 1987 (State Champion), 1985, (State Champion), 1982, 1980, 1978 (State Champion), 1972 (State runner-up).

Lakota West (seven appearances, 5-7) – 2020, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2009, 2006, 2004.

PRINCETON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Spread the wealth to keep the heat off Engleman.  The Vikings’ defense must put pressure on Bolden. They have been good at doing that so far this season with 14.0 sacks and eight takeaways. 

LAKOTA WEST’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Stop Engleman. Not contain, stop him. Make the other Vikings come up big. The offense must take care of the football, move the chains and sustain long drives, it will limit Engleman’s time on the field. The more ways the Firebirds can get the ball into the hands of Afari and Brown the better their chances for a win will be.

Prediction: Lakota West 27, Princeton 24

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