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Lakota West hosted Anderson Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. The game lasted for one offensive play before a lightning delay went into effect. The game picked up Saturday and Lakota West won the contest 35-7. Photo taken by Mark Ferland of ferlandfotos.smugmug.com.

Lakota West continued its strong start this season with a 35-7 win against Anderson Saturday. The win gives the Firebirds their first 3-0 start since the 2006 season.

Lakota West scored first with a 6-yard touchdown run by junior running back Mikel Horton in the 2nd quarter. Horton added another touchdown run in the 3rd quarter and finished the contest with 109 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Also getting in the end zone twice, fellow junior Malik Grove scored on runs of 8 and 10 yards in the 4th quarter. The quarterback completed 11-of-17 passes for 104 yards and threw an interception, as well as rushing for 37 yards on 9 carries.

Grove’s top two targets, senior tight end Dustin Parker (53 receiving yards) and junior Tyler Jones (29 receiving yards), each finished with 4 receptions. Ironically, Jones and Parker competed with Grove for the starting quarterback duties in the summer of 2011. Jones, who has received interest from Cincinnati, also battled for the starting QB job this past summer.

On special teams, Jones provided a spark by returning 4 punts for a total of 80 yards – his longest was a 40-yard return. Senior teammate Romelo White provided the game’s second touchdown when he ran back the opening kickoff of the second half, 77 yards for the score.

Defensively, senior linebacker Mike Kelly, senior defensive lineman Ryan Martin and senior defensive tackle Adam Miller each recorded a sack for Lakota West.

The game was originally scheduled to take place on Friday, but storms in the area caused it to be postponed to Saturday.

L – Horton 6-yard run (Martin kick)
L – White 77-yard kickoff return (Martin kick)
L – Horton 2-yard run (Pence run)
A – Bradley 28-yard run (Penley kick)
L – Grove 8-yard run (Martin Kick)
L – Grove 10-yard run (kick failed)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Dustin Parker, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove football recruiting, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton football recruiting, Mikel Horton Lakota West, Tyler Jones, Tyler Jones football recruiting, Tyler Jones Lakota West

After losing to one of the top teams in Division II, Lakota West (0-1) will face one of the top teams in Division I when it hosts Elder (1-0) on Friday night. While Lakota West is coming off a 27-21 loss to Winton Woods, Elder will be fresh off a 33-14 win against Centerville.

Elder: Senior running back Cody Fox nearly doubled his rushing output from last season in last week’s 33-14 win against Centerville. In the win, Fox rushed for three first-half touchdowns and a game-high 154 yards on 26 carries. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound tailback had 86 rushing yards last fall. As a team, Elder totaled 417 yards of total offense against Centerville. With the help of Fox and junior Jimmy White (100 yards on eight carries), the Panthers had 322 rushing yards. Senior quarterback Ben Gramke (photo) completed 10 of his 14 passes for 95 yards and had two touchdowns. Defensively, Elder totaled four sacks and forced the Elks into making five turnovers.

Lakota West: Head coach Larry Cox decided to start sophomore Tyler Jones (photo) over junior Dustin Parker just days before the season started last Saturday against Winton Woods. Jones, who was making his first varsity start, led the Firebirds to a touchdown on his first offensive possession. Overall, Jones threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. He did, however, struggle a bit, throwing an interception and allowed two safeties on difficult snaps to handle from his center. This prompted Cox to briefly put in Parker in the second half, as the Firebirds’ 14-4 lead quickly became a 27-14 deficit. After Saturday’s loss, Cox did say that Jones would be the starting quarterback for the Firebirds against Elder. On defense, keep an eye on senior defensive lineman Blake Bell. The 260-pound defender had an excellent game against Winton Woods and was involved on many tackles.

Bottom line: Cincinnati Enquirer contributor and former Cincinnati Post scribe Tom Ramstetter wrote, “Elder will be too much for Lakota West in this one.” Many signs put to Ramstetter being right. Elder is ranked No. 3 in the Cincinnati Enquirer Coaches Poll, while Lakota West is still trying to find its identity on offense. Nonetheless, the Firebirds turned in a solid performance against an experienced Winton Woods team last weekend. There is no reason to believe that they can’t do it again. If that happens – well – anything can happen.

Game information: Elder at Lakota West at 7:30 p.m. Location: At the high school, which is located at the corner of Union Centre Blvd. and West Chester Rd. Tickets: Call Lakota West Athletic Office between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at 513-682-4111.

(WestChesterBuzz.com will be at the game and will post a game story and pictures)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ben Gramke, Blake Bell, Cody Fox, Dustin Parker, Elder, Elder football, football, game preview, Jimmy White, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Tyler Jones

The Lakota West football team got off to a “fresh start” to the season when it opened its summer practice program on a hot evening on the high school’s football field Monday evening.

“What is neat about our sport is that every year is a new year, a fresh start, fresh beginnings and as I tell our kids – we are undefeated right now,” Lakota West head coach Larry Cox said. “Somebody else is going to have to prove that otherwise.”

With the departure of quarterback Jordan Darling, who moved to Texas after leading the Firebirds and the Greater Miami Conference in passing in 2010, there are currently four players trying to prove to Cox that they deserve the starting quarterback gig.

>>>PHOTOS OF LAKOTA WEST SUMMER FOOTBALL PRACTICE<<<

Cox will learn a lot more about his four candidates during the two weeks of his summer practice program. Battling for the starting position, which figures to be a close race, is junior Dustin Parker, sophomores Justin Martin, Malik Grove (photo) and Tyler Jones.

“We have four kids who are really, really working hard for that position,” Cox said. “They are also all good kids who all want a shot at it, but they are helping each other. That is the neat part about it.”

Three returning starters on the offensive line and the return of senior wide receiver Tyler Williams (21 rec. 257 yards in 2010) and senior running back Marcus Davis (542 rushing yards in 2010) should help the new starting quarterback.

>>>LAKOTA WEST 2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE<<<

Meanwhile, opposing quarterbacks could have a difficult time passing against West with what Cox dubs as his best secondary in his 15 years as the Firebirds’ head coach. The foursome includes seniors Dawson Fletcher (Indiana commit), Peair Foster, Amarie’ Bryant and Antonio Darden.

Also on defense, senior Blake Bell leads the defensive line and junior Mike Kelly (Ryan Kelly’s brother – Ryan is a now a freshman on the University of Alabama football team) is expected to make an impact at linebacker.

“I really like this team,” Cox said. “I think we have a lot of depth.

“Even though it is July 18th, I get a little jacked up because I know what the pay off is going to be. I know how close things are down the line and I am excited about that. Every year is a good year, some are just better than others.”

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Amarie' Bryant, Antonio Darden, Blake Bell, Darwin Fletcher, Dawson Fletcher, Dustin Parker, football, Jordan Darling, Justin Martin, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Larry Cox, Malik Grove, Marcus Davis, Mike Kelly, Peair Foster, photo gallery, photos, Ryan Kelly, Tyler Jones, Tyler Williams