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Hooks powers East to victory

Lakota East RB Ryder Hooks (photo by Barry Burtenshaw)

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Playoff football made it’s way to Butler County and Lakota East High School as the eighth seeded Thunderhawks played host to the number nine seed West Clermont Wolves. The Wolves finished fourth in the tough Eastern Cincinnati Conference and had won two straight games entering the first round battle. West Clermont aimed at winning their first playoff game since the school’s opening in 2017. The atmosphere at The Hawk’s Nest was electric as both teams were looking to

Head coach John Kitna led his team to a playoff appearance in his second year at the helm at Lakota East. The Thunderhawks were making their first playoff appearance since 2022 and seeking their first win in the postseason since 2020. Winners of five of their final six games, East proved that they wanted to stay a little bit longer as the Thunderhawks were able to please the home crowd and come away with a 42-28 first round win over West Clermont on Friday night.

Braxton Thurman got things going in the right direction for East as he returned the opening kickoff deep into West Clermont territory. The Thunderhawks went quickly on the offensive and within a few plays were able to pay it off. Ryder Hooks took the handoff and scored on a 8-yard rush to give East the early lead. AJ Fitzstephens added the extra point and the score was 7-0. East would force a three and out, but the ensuing punt was muffed setting up the Wolves in prime position.

 

Bo Rickman found Alexander Hauck for his first receiving touchdown of the season just a few short plays later. The fade route caught the East defense looking for the run and the Wolves tied the game at 7-7. The tie was short lived however as East once again had some explosive plays to immediately get back into the redzone. JT Kitna was able to find PJ MacFarlane on a short out route and hit went untouched into the endzone once again giving the lead to the Thunderhawks. East was able to get off of the field quickly again but a missed field goal stopped the drive. Just two plays later, Rickman burst through for a 71-yard scamper and touchdown to tie the game at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the two squads exchange turnovers as PJ MacFarlane lost a fumble for the Thunderhawks and Bo Rickman returned the favor for the Wolves. Ryder Hooks would take over the second quarter for Lakota East as he capped two drives with touchdowns. Hooks scored with a 1-yd plunge and a 40-yd gallop in the quarter to push the Thunderhawks to a halftime lead. West Clermont would uncharacteristically g0t another receiving touchdown from Hauck, this time with a 60-yard bomb from Rickman. That would take care of the scoring in the half as East took a 28-21 lead into the break.

Late in the third, Hooks cashed in on his fourth rushing touchdown of the night to help the Thunderhawks extend their lead to 35-21. The third quarter was dominated in time of possession for Lakota East as the Wolves only got one crack at a score in the quarter. The teams would start the fourth with Lakota East leading by two scores and West Clermont on the march to attempt to cut into the lead. The Thunderhawks defense would make a stand on fourth down and ice things away on their next drive.

 

Taking more time off of the clock, East would strike again when Kitna found Zion Neal on a deep pass to put the game away with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. The story of the second half was the East defense who were able to slow down the rushing attack of the Wolves and did not give up an explosive pass play in producing a second half shutout. 

Still East was led by the legs of Ryder Hooks who ran wild over the Wolves for the entirety of the night and scored four touchdowns. Hooks was an elusive figure for the Wolves defense and the Thunderhawks made sure to feed him as much as possible. Hooks finished with 272 yards on 25 carries to go along with his four scores. JT Kitna passed for 201 yards and two scores threw the air in the win.

With the win, Lakota East advances to face top-seeded Moeller in the second round next Friday night. West Clermont finishes their season at 7-4

 

SCORING BY QUARTERS

West Clermont: 14-7-0-7-28

Lakota East: 14-14-7-7-42

 

SCORING PLAYS

L: Ryder Hooks 8-yd rush (AJ Fitzstephens kick)

W: Alexander Hauck 21-yd rec from Bo Rickman (Isaac Cooper kick)

L: Patrick MacFarlane 11-yd rec from JT Kitna (Fitzstephens kick)

W: Bo Rickman 71-yd rush (Cooper kick)

L: Ryder Hooks 1-yd rush (Fitzstephens kick)

W: Alexander Hauck 60-yd rec from Rickman (Cooper kick)

L: Ryder Hooks 40-yd rush (Fitzstephens kick)

L: Ryder Hooks 2-yd rush (Fitzstephens kick)

L: Zion Neal 41-yd rec from Kitna (Fitzstephens kick)

W: Brady Mineer 37-yd rec from Alexander Hauck (Cooper kick)

 

RECORDS: West Clermont (7-4); Lakota East (8-3)

UP NEXT: OHSAA Playoff Round 2 matchup vs. No. 1 Moeller

 

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