Week Two of the high school football season is here, and it features yet another Top 10 matchup in Greater Cincinnati this week, as the Blitz 5 Game of the Week will find itself in West Chester on Friday night at Firebird Stadium at Lakota West High School, where #5 Lakota West, who opened the 2026 season with a convincing 20-7 victory over #6 St. Xavier, will host its Greater Miami Conference archrival, #9 Lakota East, which also opened the season in solid fashion with a 41-14 victory over Centerville. This week is shaping up to be an integral game for both squads in their chase for the GMC crown, as they both look to start their conference schedules with a victory.
#9 LAKOTA EAST (1-0) THUNDERHAWKS at #5 LAKOTA WEST FIREBIRDS (1-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., August 28th
At: Firebird Stadium, Lakota West High School, West Chester, Ohio
Follow on X: @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Lakota East quarterback Nile Knutson, with his wide receiver duo of Carter Jones and Braxton Thurman, will be the straws that stir the Thunderhawk’s offensive drink on Friday night. Against Centerville, the junior Knutson – a second-team All-GMC as a sophomore – was outstanding, going 20 of 29 for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Jones, who was an Ohio Division I All-Southwest District honorable mention last year as a junior, was the recipient of 11 of those passes for 117 yards and one score, while fellow wideout Thurman caught six passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Another Thunderhawk who had a quiet, yet very productive game offensively against Centerville was running back Brayden Auguste, who carried 14 times for 63 yards and a score, while adding three receptions for 26 yards and another score.
Defensively, Lakota East senior linebacker Tra’vion Bailey racked up 13 total tackles in the victory over Centerville, while senior defensive back Simeon Raye had an interception – one of four total turnovers the Thunderhawks defense forced.
For Lakota West, on the offensive side of the ball it is senior running back Kenyon Norman, a Northwestern commitment who was also an Ohio Division I All-Southwest District honorable mention last season. Norman carried 26 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns against St. Xavier last week, the only touchdowns the Firebirds offense scored all game.
Defensively, the Firebirds secondary will be worthy of keeping an eye on as well, as Lakota West collected three interceptions of St. Xavier quarterback Aidan Newdigate last week. Two of those interceptions came courtesy of senior defensive back Roman Combs, a Purdue commitment who also added nine tackles. The third interception was by senior defensive lineman Reilly Newman, an Iowa commitment who was an Ohio Division I second-team All-Ohio last season.
Junior linebacker Judah Blair was also all over the field for Lakota West last week, collecting 13 total tackles – two of them for loss – and adding a pass defense.
Lakota West kicker Levi King will also be a Firebird to make note of, as the freshman was two of two on field goal attempts last week against St. Xavier – his longest being a 37-yarder – and he may play a huge role again with his leg this week.
TEAM TRENDS: Lakota East is looking to make it two in a row over its archrival Lakota West, having defeated the Firebirds 42-28 last season. Meanwhile, Lakota West is looking to get back into the win column against its archrival, having won five straight against Lakota East until last season’s loss.
Lakota East’s last victory on the road at Lakota West was in 2017, a 35-0 shutout of the Firebirds. Overall, over the past decade, the series has been relatively even, with Lakota West owning a 6-4 advantage, and an 18-10 advantage over Lakota East in the 28 years of the rivalry.
The longest winning streak in the series, by either team, has been seven by Lakota West.
HEAD COACHES:
Lakota East: Jon Kitna (18-17 at Lakota East, three years; 87-55 overall, 13 years)
Lakota West: Tom Bolden (69-18 at Lakota West, seven years; 201-39 overall, 19 years)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Lakota East: (seven appearances, 6-7) – 2025, 2024, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2014, 2012
Lakota West: (12 appearances, 17-12) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2009, 2006, 2004
LAKOTA EAST’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The offensive line keeping Nile Knutson clean. He was given the time last week against Centerville, and it showed, as he completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 268 yards and three scores. However, it’s a completely different defense Knutson and his teammates face this week than the one they faced versus Centerville. Lakota West has two defensive players already committed to Big 10 schools, while several others on the defensive side of the ball have offers from schools such as Miami of Ohio and Kentucky. So it will be imperative for the Thunderhawk offensive line to keep Knutson’s pocket clean, so he can spread the field with his tandem of wideouts in Carter Jones and Braxton Thurman.
LAKOTA WEST’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Shut down the Lakota East passing game, either by getting to Nile Knutson in the backfield or the defensive secondary sticking to the Thunderhawk receiving corps like glue. It is evident that Lakota East likes to pass, and that is what makes their offense go, and it just so happens one of the strengths of the Firebirds defense is its secondary, led by Roman Combs. On the offensive side of the ball, Lakota West needs a better performance from senior quarterback Jackson Smith, who tossed two interceptions in the season opener against St. Xavier, and a rushing performance from senior running back Kenyon Norman similar to his 116 yard, two touchdown Week One performance.
Prediction: Lakota East 28, Lakota West 24
