CINCINNATI, oh – The #2 ranked Lakota West Firebirds will be entering the Ohio Division I, Region 4 as a squad that can make some noise.
The Firebirds put an emphatic close on the 2026 regular season Friday night, after knocking off Greater Miami Conference foe and #21 Oak Hills by a final of 42-14 at Oak Hills High School.
There was a lot on the line Friday night for both Lakota West and Oak Hills. For the Firebirds, a win would likely give them a top four seed and a first-round bye in the Ohio Division I, Region 4 playoffs, while a victory for Oak Hills could put them in the Ohio Division I, Region 4 playoffs for a seventh consecutive year.
And for the first quarter, it looked as if the Highlanders might nab that playoff berth, as they took an early 7-0 lead over Lakota West on the strength of a 1-yard touchdown run by senior running back Anquan Evans.
That’s how the first quarter ended, but then the Firebirds explosive offensive attack got warmed up in the second quarter. They tied the game on a 23-yard touchdown run by Kenyon Norman, and then took the lead for good at the 7:05 mark of the second quarter on a 27-yard touchdown romp by Norman.
Lakota West kept pouring it on, as quarterback Jackson Smith hooked up with wideout Karmelo Jordan on a 12-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-7, and then Norman notched his third touchdown run of the first half, with 59 seconds left until halftime, on a 10-yard scamper to make it 28-7 Firebirds at the half.
It quickly became 35-7 early in the third quarter, and Norman would rip off a 20-yard touchdown run – his fourth of the game – for the Firebirds. His backfield teammate, Eric Nelson, would add to the scoring, taking it in from 2 yards out with 38 seconds left in the third quarter to cap the scoring for Lakota West.
Oak Hills would tack on a touchdown in the fourth quarter, a 13-yard run by Anquan Evans, but it was too little, too late for the Highlanders.
Norman would finish the night for Lakota West with 14 carries for 126 yards and four touchdowns, while his backfield teammate Nelson would carry five times for 75 yards and one touchdown.
Evans carried 23 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns for the Highlanders in the loss.
Lakota West finishes the regular season 9-1 and 8-1 in the GMC, with their only loss to #1 Princeton. They are projected to be a #3 seed and receive a first-round playoff bye once the official playoff ratings are released Sunday, Oct. 25.
Oak Hills finished their season 4-6, and 3-6 in the GMC.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Lakota West: 0-28-14-0-42
Oak Hills: 7-0-0-7-14
SCORING PLAYS
OH: Anquan Evans 1-yard run (Brecken Hilsinger kick)
LW: Kenyon Norman 23-yard run (Levi King kick)
LW: Norman 27-yard run (King kick)
LW: Karmelo Jordan 12-yard pass from Jackson Smith (King kick)
LW: Norman 10-yard run (King kick)
LW: Norman 20-yard run (King kick)
LW: Nelson 2-yard run (King kick)
OH: Evans 13-yard run (Hilsinger kick)
RECORDS: Lakota West 9-1, (8-1), Oak Hills 4-6 (3-6)
UP NEXT: Lakota West first-round bye, Ohio Division I, Region 4 playoffs ; Oak Hills season is complete
