Lakota West shuts out Lakota East
- Updated: October 7, 2023
Lakota West knocks off rival Lakota East, 34-0. (photo by Kelsey Rebman / TriStateFootball.com)
The Lakota West Firebirds traveled three exits north on I-75 to take on district rival Lakota East in an epic GMC showdown.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Blitz 5 Game of the Week made its way to the Battle of the Lakotas in Liberty Township on Friday night, where the 1-6 Lakota East Thunderhawks, led by former Bengal John Kitna, played host to the Lakota West Firebirds, led by high school coaching legend Tom Bolden. While the first half saw little action on the offensive side of the ball, Bolden and the Firebirds exploded in the second half and left with a win 34-0, thanks to scores in all different phases of the game.
Lakota West got the scoring started in unusual fashion early in the first quarter when the Firebirds punt return unit blocked a Lakota East punt. Senior defensive end Taebron Bennie picked it up and took it 44 yards to the house to put Lakota West up 7-0 in the first quarter.
Not much offense was mustered up by either team in the first half. The only other scoring by either team in the first 24 minutes were a pair of Brayden Benner field goals to put Lakota West up 13-0 at the half.
Lakota West came out of the second half locker room on fire offensively. The Firebirds went on an 80-yard drive in the third quarter which was capped off by a great catch by Brennan Remy for the 16-yard score. That gave Lakota West a 20-0 lead after three quarters.
The fourth quarter was all Firebirds as well. Sam Wiles found the end zone on a seven-yard run, followed later by a Tyson Davis 23-yard run. After getting very little offensive production in the first half, Lakota West’s offense exploded in the second half with three offensive touchdowns in the 34-0 rout.
Wiles finished the game with 153 yards through the air and a touchdown, while also adding 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Firebirds gained nearly equal yardage passing and running, with the passing game nearly edging out the run game 156-153 yards.
For the first time this season, Lakota East gunslinger Jamison Kitna was held to less than 100 yards passing in the game, finishing with 93 yards. Ryder Hooks also added 67 yards on the ground but the 156 yards of total offense was not enough for the Thunderhawks to get on the board. Also hurting Lakota East was an abysmal third down efficiency rate, only converting two out of 10 third downs.
With the win, Lakota West has won six in a row and has a favorable schedule down the stretch to win out and possibly get a Top 4 seed in the Division I playoffs. Next week, the Firebirds return home to take on the Mason Comets. Lakota East, meanwhile, will look to pick up its second win of the season against Oak Hills.
POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW: Tom Bolden, Lakota West
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Lakota West 7-6-7-14-34 Lakota East 0-0-0-0-0
SCORING PLAYS
W: Taebron Bennie 44-yard punt block recovery TD
W: Brayden Benner 22-yard FG
W: Brayden Benner 25-yard FG
W: Sam Wiles 16-yard pass to Brennan Remy
W: Sam Wiles 7-yard run
W: Tyson Davis 23-yard run
RECORDS: Lakota West (6-2, 6-1); Lakota East (1-7, 1-6)
UP NEXT: Lakota West vs. Mason; Lakota East vs. Oak Hills
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