WEST CHESTER, Ohio – Lakota West got its revenge against its district rival in emphatic fashion Friday night, riding a monster performance from senior running back Kenyon Norman to a 48-18 victory over Lakota East in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week.
The win moves the Firebirds to 2-0 and gives them an important victory to open Greater Miami Conference play after East snapped West’s five-game winning streak in the rivalry a year ago.
Lakota East (1-1) struck first when junior quarterback Nile Knutson connected with Braxton Thurman for a 46-yard touchdown. The lead lasted just over a minute.
Norman, a Northwestern commit, broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown run to put West in front, 7-6. That was only the beginning of a huge night for the senior.
Norman added a seven-yard touchdown early in the second quarter after quarterback Jackson Smith connected with Karmelo Jordan for 50 yards to set up the score.
The Firebirds’ defense then delivered one of the biggest plays of the night. Purdue commit Roman Combs forced a fumble and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown, extending the West advantage to 21-6. East’s AJ Fitzstephens connected on a 40-yard field goal just before halftime to make it 21-9.
Any hopes of an East comeback disappeared quickly after the break.
Norman raced 75 yards for his third touchdown just 54 seconds into the third quarter. Smith then found Jordan for touchdown passes of 35 yards on consecutive possessions as the Firebirds turned the rivalry game into a rout.
After another Fitzstephens field goal, Norman capped his spectacular performance with a 28-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Norman finished with 262 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries, averaging 20.2 yards per attempt. Smith completed 8-of-9 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, with Jordan catching three passes for 120 yards and two scores.
West piled up 458 yards despite possessing the football for just 16:31. The Firebirds rushed for 303 yards on only 23 attempts.
Knutson completed 21-of-32 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns for East, but was intercepted once. Thurman led the Thunderhawks with eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.
East finished with 364 yards, but managed only 79 on the ground and committed two turnovers against a West defense loaded with playmakers.
The Thunderhawks added their final score in the fourth quarter when Knutson found Carter Jones for a one-yard touchdown, but by then the Firebirds had made their statement.
POSTGAME RADIO INTERVIEW: Tom Bolden, Lakota West
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SCORING BY QUARTERS
Lakota East: 6-3-3-6-18
Lakota West: 7-14-27-0-48
SCORING PLAYS
E: Braxton Thurman 46 pass from Nile Knutson (kick failed)
W: Kenyon Norman 72 run (Levi King kick)
W: Norman 7 run (King kick)
W: Roman Combs 48 fumble return (King kick)
E: AJ Fitzstephens 40 field goal
W: Norman 75 run (King kick)
W: Karmelo Jordan 35 pass from Jackson Smith (King kick)
E: Fitzstephens 37 field goal
W: Jordan 35 pass from Smith (conversion failed)
W: Norman 28 run (King kick)
E: Carter Jones 1 pass from Knutson (conversion failed)
RECORDS: Lakota East (1-0, 0-1 GMC); Lakota West (1-0, 1-0)
UP NEXT: Lakota East at Oak Hills; Lakota West at Mason
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
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