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Junior quarterback Malik Grove has helped Lakota West get off to 8-0 start this fall, which is its best start in school history. Photo taken during game between La Salle and Lakota West Aug. 25, 2012 by Joseph Fuqua II.

Heading into last year’s matchup Colerain was on its way to winning another Greater Miami Conference title, while the Lakota West football program was hoping to earn its first conference win of the season.

What a difference a year makes.

This Friday night, the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in The Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll will face off at Colerain High School at 7:30 p.m. in what appears to be a matchup that will decide the GMC title.

And if this year’s game is anything like last year’s, Colerain fans have to be concerned.

Led by its then sophomore quarterback Malik Grove, who began last season as the third stringer, Lakota West scored two touchdowns and recovered two onside kicks in the final three minutes. Eventually, the Firebirds came up two yards short, fumbling the ball on third-and-goal in the closing seconds, falling to Colerain by the score of 24-19.

Colerain senior quarterback Alfred Ramsby began his high school football career as a backup running back at Lakota West. In two seasons at Colerain, Ramsby has a 11-1 record as the starting quarterback. Photo taken by Tony Tribble.

“That was sort of the launch pad for our entire offseason.”

It can be easy to put too much focus on the opponent when it is Colerain, which is currently ranked No. 9 nationally in the USA Today Super 25 rankings and has won or shared the GMC title in each of the past 12 seasons.

“Our expectations at Colerain are always the same … we want to win every game,” Colerain head coach Tom Bolden said. “15-0 is our expectation. That is a very lofty goal, but that is what we do.”

Unlike last season, where Colerain entered the game with a 5-1 record and Lakota West with a 1-5 record, both teams are 8-0 overall and 5-0 within the GMC this fall.

Grove, who came off the bench to help lead the comeback by completing 14-of-23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, has been the Firebirds starter ever since – compiling a 10-1 record as the main signal caller.

“He (Grove) is a young man who wants to put the team in the best spot to win,” Cox said. “Malik is not about numbers, other than the win-loss column. That is all he cares about.”

Meanwhile, Colerain’s starting quarterback, senior Alfred Ramsby, who actually was a backup running back at Lakota West as a sophomore, has a similar record at 11-1 as a starter.

“Playing here at Colerain is a whole different environment,” Ramsby said. “The whole town is with you. It is like a love/hate relationship. If you doing good – they love you. If you are doing bad – they still love you, but they are ticked at you a little bit.”

That passion for high school football in Colerain Township stems from a program that consistently wins, especially against Lakota West whom they have defeated 11 times in 12 games and haven’t lost to since 1999.

“I always say, ‘you do have go through Colerain to get to a title,’” Cox said.

“If you are truly a competitor and you truly want to get to that level and aspire to be the best, than these are the games you can’t wait for. These are the games that you think about.”

Impact players

Colerain Cardinals

• Sr. QB Alfred Ramsby – 46-of-90 passes for 1,107 yards, 12 TDs and 2 INTs, 583 rushing yards and 8 TDs on 94 carries
• Sr. FB Jackson Sorn – 543 rushing yards and 4 TDs on 77 carries
• Sr. RB Detuan Smith – 497 rushing yards and 6 TDs on 60 carries
• Sr. RB/WR Chris Davis – 368 receiving yards and 3 TDs on 16 catches, 279 rushing yards and 5 TDs on 57 carries
• Sr. OL Dylan Wiesman – verbally committed to UC
• Jr. DB Ryan Williamson – 5 INTs for 40 yards

Lakota West Firebirds

• Jr. QB Malik Grove – 56-of-120 passes for 747 yards, 8 TDs and 4 INTs, 376 rushing yards and 7 TDs on 74 carries
• Jr. RB Mikel Horton – 898 rushing yards and 12 TDs on 174 carries
• Soph. RB Kole Gentry – 423 rushing yards and 6 TDs on 68 carries
• Sr. OL Kyle Meadows – offers from top Division I programs including Florida State
• Sr. DL Luke Scott – 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, leads team with 40 tackles
• Sr. DB Tyler Cross – 6 INTs (school record) for 48 yards, 2 fumble recoveries

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alfred Ramsby, Alfred Ramsby Colerain, Colerain, Colerain football, Colerain Highi School, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Larry Cox, Larry Cox Lakota West, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Tom Bolden, Tom Bolden Colerain

After defeating Greater Miami Conference opponent Middletown Friday night, the 2012 Lakota West football team became the first in school history to begin a season with an 8-0 record.

In the latest win, the Firebirds took a 27-0 lead late into the third quarter before holding onto to a 27-14 win at home.

Lakota West junior quarterback Malik Grove has been one of the many reasons that the Firebirds are off to their best start in school history. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II in a 30-13 win against Mason Sept. 14.

6-foot-3 junior kicker Justin Martin caught his second touchdown pass of the season when junior quarterback Malik Grove connected with him from 10 yards out midway through the first quarter.

Running backs, junior Mikel Horton and sophomore Kole Gentry, each added touchdowns in the second quarter, as Lakota West took a 20-0 halftime lead. Horton would finish the game with 103 yards on 24 carries, while Gentry added 24 yards on six carries.

In the second half, the scoring started when senior Michael Carter incepted a pass from Middletown senior Jalin Marshall and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. The interception was one of three thrown by Marshall, who will play college football at Ohio State. The other two INTs came at the hands of Lakota West senior Tyler Cross, who had two interceptions in a single game for the second time this season.

Before the game ended, Marshall would add a pair of touchdowns for the Middies – scoring on a run of 53 yards and throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Jordann Thomas. For the game, Marshall finished with 165 rushing yards on 24 carries and was 4-of-18 passing for 39 yards.

Next week, the Firebirds, ranked No. 3 in The Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, plays at No. 1-ranked Colerain (8-0). Entering this Friday, Lakota West and Colerain were also No. 2 and No. 1 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s region 4 computer rankings.

LW – Martin 10-yard pass from Grove (Martin kick)
LW – Horton 4-yard run (kick failed)
LW – Gentry 4-yard run (Martin kick)
LW – Mitchell 57-yard INT return (Martin kick)
M – Marshall 53-yard run (kick failed)
M – Thomas 15-yard pass from Marshall (A’Keeno King recp)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: football preview, game preview, Jalin Marshall, Jalin Marshall Ohio State, Kyle Meadows, Kyle Meadows Lakota West, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton Lakota West

Lakota West running back Mikel Horton runs for a touchdown as he’s wrapped up by Mason defensive back Gus Thieken in the Firebirds’ 30-13 win against Mason earlier this season. Overall, Lakota West is 7-0 and is only one of two unbeaten teams in the Greater Miami Conference. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

Lakota West (7-0 overall, 4-0 in the Greater Miami Conference), who is ranked No. 3 in The Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll, will host Middletown (2-5 overall, 1-3 in the GMC) this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Firebirds are coming off a 37-10 win against Oak Hills, while Middletown enters the game after losing 41-14 last week to Colerain.

Middletown: After making the postseason and winning at least 10 games in the each of the past three seasons, expectations were high in 2012 for the Middletown Middies. This team, surprisingly, has struggled – especially lately – losing its last three games, which included losses against Lakota East, Oak Hills and Colerain. Despite their struggles, the Middies are a dangerous team that is led by one of the state’s top players in senior quarterback Jalin Marshall, who is committed to continue his football career at Ohio State. Last season, in a 47-7 Middletown victory against Lakota West, Marshall rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries. So far this season, Marshall has rushed for 953 yards and nine touchdowns and has thrown for 559 yards and seven touchdowns.

Lakota West: The Firebirds are off to their best start since 2004, are ranked No. 3 in The Enquirer’s coaches’ poll and are now No. 2 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s region 4 computer rankings. Unlike Middletown, Lakota West struggled the past two seasons and has been one of the area’s top teams in 2012. Overall, the offense has played well – scoring 30 or more points in all seven games this season. As a team, the Firebirds have outscored their opponents 256-90. Their offense is led by junior quarterback Malik Grove, junior running back Mikel Horton and senior offensive tackle Kyle Meadows.

Bottom line: Lakota West appears to be the favorite, but Middletown has to be considered a dangerous opponent. Just last year, the Middies blew out Lakota West, 47-7. Also making this matchup possibly dangerous for the Firebirds is the thought of the team’s next opponent – Colerain, who is ranked No. 11 nationally by USA Today and is the only other unbeaten team in the GMC this season. By comparing common opponents, Middletown has defeated Fairfield, 41-26, and lost to Oak Hills, 27-26, while Lakota West defeated Fairfield, 32-8, and Oak Hills, 37-10.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: football preview, game preview, Jalin Marshall, Jalin Marshall Ohio State, Kyle Meadows, Kyle Meadows Lakota West, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton Lakota West

For the first time in eight years, the Lakota West football program has won its first six regular season games. Its most recent win, a 48-18 victory against Greater Miami Conference foe Princeton, improved its conference record to 3-0.

Lakota West junior quarterback Malik Grove rushed for four touchdowns and threw for more than 100 yards in a 48-18 win against Princeton Sept. 28, 2012. Photo taken of Grove by Joseph Fuqua II in a 30-13 win against Mason Sept. 14.

Against the Vikings, Lakota West trailed 18-14 at halftime, but scored 24 unanswered in the second half. Junior quarterback Malik Grove led the way with three rushing touchdowns in the second half. The junior also rushed for another touchdown in the first quarter, as well as completed 7-of-19 passes for 108 yards.

The Firefirds leading rusher was sophomore Kole Gentry, who finished with a career-high 117 rushing yards on 17 carries. Prior to the Princeton game, Gentry had been averaging 42 rushing yards per game. His previous career high was 53 rushing yards in the Firebirds’ 30-13 win against Mason Sept. 14.

Defensively, Lakota West received a strong performance from Eli McBurrows, who recorded a team-high 11 tackles (eight solo and three assisted) in the win against Princeton. Heading into Friday’s game, the senior had a total of 12 tackles combined in five games.

The win should help steady the Firebirds’ position in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Region 4 computer rankings. Heading into the matchup, Lakota West was ranked No. 2 in the region, behind GMC rival Colerain (6-0 overall, 3-0 in GMC). At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams in the region’s computing rankings will qualify for the postseason.

Next Friday, Oct. 5, Lakota West will go on the road to face Oak Hills (4-2 overall, 2-1 in GMC). The Highlanders are coming off back-to-back road wins at Princeton, 32-19, and at Middletown, 27-26. Their two losses this season were at Loveland, 17-0, and vs. Lakota East, 40-20.

After the Oak Hills contest, Lakota West will have three games left in the regular season – at home against Middletown (2-4 overall, 1-2 in GMC) Oct. 12, on the road at Colerain Oct. 19 and at home against school district rival Lakota East (5-1 overall, 3-0 in GMC) Oct. 26.

Box score to be posted later on the Greater Miami Conference website.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Kole Gentry, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove football recruiting, Malik Grove Lakota West

Lakota West quarterback Malik Grove, photo taken earlier this season, threw two touchdown passes in a 32-8 win against Fairfield Friday. So far this season, Grove has helped guide Lakota West to a 5-0 overall record. Photo by Joseph Fuqua II.

Junior quarterback Malik Grove threw for two touchdowns and junior running back Mikel Horton ran for two more, as Lakota West defeated Fairfield by the score of 32-8 Friday night.

Horton scored the game’s first touchdown on a 2-yard run early in the first quarter. He added his second rushing touchdown early in the third quarter, which gave the Firebirds a 32-0 lead.

Overall, Horton finished with 113 rushing yards on 23 carries. In five games this season, Horton has rushed for 654 yards and nine touchdowns on 129 carries.

Meanwhile, Grove completed 9-of-14 passes for 94 yards, and rushed for 84 yards on 10 carries. Grove’s touchdown passes both came in the second quarter. His first was a 7-yard strike to junior Jarin Higginbotham with 9:16 left in the first half and his second was a 17-yard pass play to senior Grant Pence with 45 seconds on the clock.

Defensively, Lakota West limited Fairfield to only 127 yards of total offense. Junior Tony Gabbard had 1.5 sacks in the win, upping his season total to 3.5. Senior defensive back Michael Carter had an interception in the game against Fairfield. It was Carter’s second INT of the season.

The win improves the Firebirds record to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Greater Miami Conference. The last time Lakota West won its first five games of the season was in 2004.

Fairfield, on the other hand, falls to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the GMC with the loss.

Next Friday at 7:30 p.m., Lakota West will host Princeton (0-5 overall, 0-2 in GMC) and Fairfield will be at Sycamore (4-1 overall, 1-1 in GMC).

LW – Horton 2 run (Martin kick)
LW – Martin 40-yard FG
LW – Higginbotham 7-yard pass from Grove (Martin kick)
LW – Pence 17-yard pass from Grove (Martin kick)
LW – Horton 8-yard run (Kirwen reception)
F – Stallworth 2-yard run (Byrd reception)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove football recruiting, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mike Williams, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton football recruiting, Mikel Horton Lakota West

Lakota West senior Tyler Cross loses his helmet as he makes a tackle in game against La Salle Aug. 25, 2012. Cross intercepted a pass and returned 17 yards for a touchdown in that game and, later on in the year, he intercepted two passes in a win against Mason. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

Lakota West (4-0 overall, 1-0 in GMC), which is ranked No. 5 in The Cincinnati Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll, will visit Fairfield (2-2 overall, 0-1 in GMC) this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Firebirds are coming off a convincing 30-13 win against rival Mason, while Fairfield lost last week to Middletown by the score of 41-26.

Lakota West: The Firebirds are off to their best start since 2006. If they can defeat Fairfield this Friday, the Firebirds will be 5-0 for the first time since 2004. Due to that start, Lakota West opened this Tuesday No. 3 in Region 4 of the OHSAA computer rankings (top eight teams qualify for postseason). In the win against Mason, Lakota West was leading 30-0 in the fourth quarter. So far this year, Lakota West has outscored its opponents 145-54. Helping the offense has been the play of juniors Mikel Horton, Malik Grove and Tyler Jones. Horton has 541 yards and seven touchdowns on 106 carries, while Jones has 10 receptions for 119 yards. Grove has completed 33-of-68 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns and has only one interception. Junior kicker Justin Martin has also been a bright spot – converting four of his five field goal attempts and making 13 of 15 extra points. Defensively, Lakota West has nine sacks, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Leading the secondary, senior Tyler Cross has three interceptions including two last week and one in Week 1 against La Salle that went for a 17-yard score. As a team, Lakota West is averaging around 341 yards of total offense and giving up approximately 256 yards on defense.

Fairfield: After starting the year 2-0, the Indians have lost back-to-back games. The latest loss, 41-26, to Middletown, Fairfield trailed 34-0 at halftime. The Indians were able to add six points in the third quarter and 20 in the fourth. Offensively, Fairfield likes to spread the ball around. Overall, a total of eight Indians have at least one carry. Senior running back Todd Hoard leads the team with 189 yards and three touchdowns on 43 carries. As a team, Fairfield has rushed for 637 yards and eight touchdowns on 151 carries. A total of six players have rushed for more than 60 yards. The team also uses two quarterbacks. Junior Ryan Nuss has completed 17-of-35 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, but he has thrown three interceptions. Senior Miles Harris has completed 19-of-33 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Fairfield has recorded 10 sacks, forced two fumbles, recovered four fumbles and has three interceptions. Statistically, senior Mike Williams leads the Indians’ defense with three sacks, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.

Bottom line: After finishing 1-9 in 2011 and 2-8 in 2010, Fairfield appeared to be on the mend when it won its first two games this season. Similarly, Lakota West, which has had back-to-back 3-7 seasons, got off to a 2-0 start this year with a 46-34 win against La Salle and a 34-0 win at Glen Este in Week 2. Unlike Fairfield, Lakota West has appeared to get stronger – defeating Anderson 35-7 and rival Mason 30-13 in last two weeks. With the Firebirds playing so well, they have to be considered the favorite. However, they can’t overlook any team in the GMC.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove football recruiting, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mike Williams, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton football recruiting, Mikel Horton Lakota West, Miles Harris, Ryan Nuss, Todd Hoard, Tyler Cross, Tyler Jones, Tyler Jones football recruiting, Tyler Jones Lakota West

Lakota West quarterback Malik Grove started the season opener against La Salle a game the Firebirds won 46-34. Grove ended up throwing for 103 yards and a touchdown in the win. So far, Grove has helped lead Lakota West to a 4-0 record this fall. Photo taken Aug. 25, 2012 by Joseph Fuqua II.

The Lakota West Athletic Department announced Monday afternoon that it has honored junior quarterback Malik Grove and junior golfer Shannon Jeffers as its athletes of the week.

Grove helped to lead the Firebirds to a 30-13 win against rival Mason this past Friday. In the win, which was the team’s Greater Miami Conference opener, Grove amassed 215 yards – rushing for 52 and throwing for 163 yards. With Grove under center, Lakota West is 4-0 on the season, which is its best start since 2006. He is also second in passing yards in the GMC with 466. Overall, he has thrown four touchdowns and ran for two more in four games this fall.

Jeffers earned medalist honors during a match against Fairfield last Monday when she shot a personal best 1-over-par 36 on the front nine of Farifield Sount Trace G.C. On Wednesday, Jeffers followed that up with a team-best 45 on the red nine at Hamilton Elks. On Thursday, on the same nine holes, Jeffers shot a 48, which was two shots higher than teammate Katie Willis.

* Lakota East will name its athletes of the week at the end of the week

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: athletes of the week, Lakota athletes of the week, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West golf, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Shannon Jeffers

Lakota West running back Mikel Horton runs for a touchdown as he’s wrapped up by Mason defensive back Gus Thieken in the first quarter. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

Kevin Goheen reports:

It’s been six years since Lakota West has started a football season 4-0 but the Firebirds reached that mark Friday night behind a dominating defensive performance to beat Mason 30-13 Friday night at Lakota West.

Senior defensive back Tyler Cross had two interceptions and the Lakota West defense held Mason to just four first downs through the first three quarters in the Greater Miami Conference opener for both teams.

Lakota West, which went 3-7 each of the last two seasons, is ranked No. 5 in the Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll, while Mason, ranked No. 10, falls to 2-2.

“Our defense played great,” said Lakota West coach Larry Cox. “I felt like we were prepared at the Thursday practice walk-through and I felt that at walk-through for pregame. The kids executed the game plan and the coaches did a good job of calling it.”

Mason committed three turnovers plus had one punt blocked and a bad snap on another punt that led directly to 23 points for Lakota West.

Lakota West quarterback Malik Grove looks to throw during the first quarter. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

Lakota West led just 10-0 at halftime despite its decided advantages in turnovers and field position. The Firebirds’ defense held Mason to 26 net yards offense and two first downs in the first two quarters.

Mason ended the game with 190 yards offense and nine first downs. Lakota West finished with 356 yards offense and 21 first downs.

Mason forced Lakota West to punt on the opening possession of the third quarter but went three-and-out and punted the ball back to the Firebirds.

Junior quarterback Malik Grove hit senior wide receiver Grant Pence for a 37-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-15 play that gave the Firebirds some breathing room, 16-0.

Lakota West junior running back Mikel Horton carried the ball 24 times for 105 yards and scored three touchdowns, all following a Mason turnover or mistake in the punt game that gave the Firebirds short fields.

Darryl Johnson was leading the GMC with 543 yards rushing coming into the game but was held to 98 yards on 24 carries, most of which came in the fourth quarter after Lakota West had taken a 30-0 lead. Johnson scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 32-yard run around the right side that gave Mason its first points.

Mason started sophomore Rodney Hutchinson at quarterback. Lakota West focused its defensive efforts on stopping Johnson and making Hutchinson beat them.

Cross’ first interception set up Horton’s opening touchdown of the game. His second pick stopped a Mason possession after the Comets had recovered a muffed punt in Lakota West territory.

“He was turning his shoulder and I was just reading him. He’s inexperienced,” said Cross. “This is great. I don’t know what it feels like (being 4-0). It’s good. We’ve just got to keep working.”

LW – Horton 1 run (Martin kick)
LW – Martin 30 FG
LW – Grove 37 pass to Pence (kick blocked)
LW – Horton 1 run (Martin kick)
LW – Horton 13 run (Martin kick)
M – Johnson 32 run (Patterson kick)
M – Johnson 1 run (run failed)

Records: Mason 2-2 (0-1 GMC), Lakota West 4-0 (1-0).

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Grant Pence, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Larry Cox, Malik Grove, Malik Grove football recruiting, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton football recruiting, Mikel Horton Lakota West, Rodney Hutchinson, Tyler Cross, Tyler Jones, Tyler Jones football recruiting, Tyler Jones Lakota West

Kevin Goheen reports:

Larry Cox likes to look at the first three games of the high school season as preseason contests for his Lakota West program. While the comparison to an NFL schedule isn’t fully equivalent – these first games all actually count – Mason’s Brian Castner can relate to Cox’s belief.

Lakota West junior Mikel Horton rushed for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries in the 46-34 Lakota West’s season-opening win against La Salle Aug. 25 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

With their non-league games past them, Lakota West and Mason meet Friday night at Lakota West in each team’s Greater Miami Conference opener.

“When the league starts, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re in the GCL or GMC or any league you can smell it in the air,” said Castner.

Lakota West, which is off to its first 3-0 start since 2006, is ranked No. 5 in this week’s Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, while Mason (2-1) is ranked No. 10.

Mason has had to replace 17 starters from last season’s playoff team and is starting sophomore Rodney Hutchinson at quarterback. Senior running back Darryl Johnson leads the GMC with 543 yards rushing while the defense, led by senior linebacker Andrew Hauser, has held opponents to just 16 points in three games.

Lakota West is averaging 38.3 points per game, led by junior running Mikel Horton (436 yards rushing) and junior quarterback Malik Grove (303 yards passing).

Cox is in his 16th season at Lakota West. He has led the program since its inception and the Firebirds have never had three consecutive losing seasons. They were 3-7 each of the last two seasons.

“We’ve got some athleticism, more than we’ve had in the past and I think the kids are playing with a little bit of confidence but that’s also a double-edged sword,” said Cox. “You want them to play with confidence but you don’t want them to be cocky. You’ve got to temper that success with reality. We always talk to the kids about that in everything we do and it’s the hardest thing to teach a high school kid.”

Lakota West has beaten La Salle, Glen Este and Anderson to start its season. Mason has wins against Lancaster and Glen Este following a 10-7 loss to undefeated Springboro in its opener.

Hutchinson is growing into his role as quarterback. Johnson is the lone returning starter on offense and the Comets lost two quarterbacks before the season started. Hutchinson has stepped in and played well, according to Castner.

“The first game against Springboro, he had a very solid night. He didn’t lose us the game, he didn’t win us the game but he did what he needed to do. He did his job,” said Castner. “The last couple of weeks he’s trying to make some progress in certain areas and he’s still progressing, still maturing.”

Lakota West has been more balanced offensively, although he rushing attack behind and offensive line that features seniors Ben Pendery (6-2, 295) and Kyle Meadows (6-5, 270) is at the forefront. Horton (6-2, 225) is more of a downhill style while sophomore Kole Gentry and senior Eric Ellis have worked into the rotation with more speed.

“They bring different things to the table so I feel really good about our depth in that respect,” said Cox. “This is going to be a nip-and-tuck ball game. It’s going to be tight.”

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Darryl Johnson, Darryl Johnson Mason, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove football recruiting, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mason football, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton football recruiting, Mikel Horton Lakota West

Lakota West junior quarterback Malik Grove has helped Lakota West get off to 3-0 start this fall, which is its best start since 2006. Photo taken during game between La Salle and Lakota West Aug. 25, 2012 by Joseph Fuqua II.

Lakota West (3-0) will enter conference play with a perfect 3-0 record for the first time since 2006 when it hosts Greater Miami Conference rival Mason (2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Mason: After losing its season opener, 10-7, against Springboro, Mason has won back-to-back football games at Lancaster (20-6) and vs. Glen Este (27-3). In the latest victory, Mason senior Darryl Johnson rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. It was his second straight game where he rushed for more than 200 yards and had three touchdowns. In three games this season, Johnson has rushed for 543 yards and six touchdowns on 79 carries. Overall, largely led by Johnson, Mason is averaging 296 yards of total offense and 18 points per game. Defensively, however, appears to be the strength of the Comets – limiting opponents to an average of 215 yards and only 6.3 points per game. One of the leaders of the defense is senior safety Corey Quallen, who has offers from Mid-American Conference programs. Another standout on that side of the ball is senior linebacker Andrew Hauser, who recorded two sacks in last week’s win against Glen Este.

Lakota West: The Firebirds have outscored their opponents 115-to-41 in three games this season. The offense, led by junior running back Mikel Horton, is averaging roughly 328 yards and 38 points per game. Horton, who is averaging around 145 rushing yards per contest, has 436 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 82 carries. Meanwhile, junior quarterback Malik Grove has completed 21-of-46 passes for 303 yards and has three touchdown passes and one interception in three games. Grove has completed passes to six different receivers and his top target has been junior Tyler Jones, who has six receptions for 76 yards this season. Defensively, the Firebirds have six sacks, recovered three fumbles and have three interceptions. As a team, they are giving up roughly 278 yards and 14 points per game.

Bottom line: These two programs didn’t play each other last season. But, they have both played a common opponent in 2012 – Glen Este. Mason defeated the Trojans 27-3 at home last Friday, while West blanked the Trojans 34-0 on the road the week before. With both wins being so similar, one would think that this should be a even matchup. If it doesn’t turn out to be a close game, then there will be a lot learned about each program.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: 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