We have come to the end of the regular season and you couldn’t ask for a better matchup than Lakota West traveling to Lakota East to conclude the 2025 Blitz 5 Game of the Week schedule.
The rivals have both locked up a home playoff game for next weekend but don’t expect either team to rest on their laurels. This battle is for district bragging rights. The players are going to leave all they have on the field on Friday night.
#11 LAKOTA WEST FIREBIRDS (6-3, 6-2) at LAKOTA EAST THUNDERHAWKS (6-3, 5-3)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., October 24th
The Hawks Nest
Follow on X: @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior Kenyon Norman has led a rejuvenated Lakota West rushing attack averaging 12.2 yards on 22 carries for 269 yards and five touchdowns over the past two contests. Classmate Jackson Smith has benefitted from the success of the run game. He has completed 72.9% of his passes (27-37) for 531 yards with seven touchdowns passing, three rushing scores and zero interceptions in the last three games.
Ryder Hooks is capping off a wonderful career with a story book senior campaign. Hooks, who became the all-time leading rusher at Lakota East earlier in the year has run for 1,443 yards (160.3 RuYs/ game), averaged 9.4 yards per carry, reeled in 18 catches for 292 yards, amassed 2,070 all-purpose yards (230.0 APYs/game), with 24 tackles, five pass breakups, two pick-sixes and 16 touchdowns (11 rush, two rush, two IRs, one pass). First year starter Nile Knutson has thrown for 1,772 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Thunderhawks sophomore has shared the wealth between five players – Carter Jones, Patrick MacFarlane, Chris Bouyer, Jayden Seay and Hooks. The quintet has combined for 146 receptions, 1,710 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. All have between 290 and 381 yards receiving.
TEAM TRENDS: Lakota West Head Coach Tom Bolden is 15-0 all-time versus Lakota East including a 6-0 mark with the Firebirds. West has an average margin of victory of 24.7 points per game in those victories over East. The Firebirds have been great in October under Bolden having won 20 consecutive contests dating all the way back to a 2020 loss to St. Xavier in the regional championship.
Lakota West ran for just 555 yards the first seven games. They have busted out for 445 yards on the ground in their last two affairs. The Firebirds defense is holding opposing quarterbacks to 83.3 yards per game through the air, a 41.3 completion percentage with just four touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
Lakota East has allowed 205.7 yards per game rushing, 5.6 yards per carry and 21 touchdowns on the ground. The Thunderhawks secondary has been outstanding, snaring 10 interceptions returning four for scores and amassing 356 return yards.
HEAD COACHES:
Lakota West: Tom Bolden (67-16 at Lakota West, seventh year; 199-37 overall, 19th year)
Lakota East: Jon Kitna (15-16 at Lakota East, third year; 84-54 overall, 13th year)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Lakota West (11 appearances, 16-11) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2009, 2006, 2004
Lakota East (six appearances, 5-6) – 2024, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2014, 2012
LAKOTA WEST’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The run game has kicked into a whole new gear during the Firebirds four-game winning streak. That rushing train needs to continue on its current journey. Cleaning up sloppy play is a must. Lakota West has averaged nine penalties and 92.7 penalty yards in its past four victories.
LAKOTA EAST’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Stopping the run has been a problem against teams that are physical up front. The Thunderhawks defense needs to get off the field and let Hooks and crew do their thing to wear down the clock. In an emotional game like this, unconventional scores always seem to sway the momentum in ginormous fashion.
Prediction: Lakota West 27, Lakota East 17
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