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It won’t be known until early Sunday morning when the final OHSAA Region 4 computer rankings are released, but Lakota East may have spoiled Lakota West’s season with a 33-21 upset win at Lakota West High School Friday night.

Heading into the game No. 6 in the region 4 computer rankings (top eight qualify for postseason), Lakota West could have locked up its first playoff berth since 2009 with a win over its school district rival.

Meanwhile, Lakota East, which entered the week No. 11 in the computer rankings, will have to wait and see if it qualified for the postseason for the first time in school history.

“I have to be honest, I have no idea what has to happen (to make the postseason),” Lakota East head coach Rick Haynes said. “When I was at Colerain (as an assistant coach), we were always working on the projections and we didn’t even do that this year because I wanted our kids to be worried about playing well tonight.”

Whether East makes the postseason or not, the 26 seniors and other Lakota East athletes that make up the roster are proud that they were able to snap a seven-game losing streak against Lakota West.

The win is also East’s first over the Firebirds since 2004.

“We really have a great group of seniors this year and we knew we had to do this because it had just been way too long of a streak,” Lakota East senior linebacker Jake Chestnut said. “As our coaches have been saying all week, ‘we have the right group at the right time, at the right point of history to break that streak.’”

After falling behind 7-0 early in the first quarter, Lakota East senior running Chamada Palmore evened the score with a 25-yard touchdown run. Palmore, who played for the first time since breaking his left knuckle in two places during a game against Sycamore on Oct. 5, finished with 69 rushing yards on eight carries.

“Chamada had worked so hard in the offseason and was so improved from last year. It was just a shame that he had to miss the last two games for us. You could just see the anguish on his face when he couldn’t play,” Haynes said. “I was just so happy for him when the doctor cleared him to get back out there.”

Palmore wasn’t the only runner out there for the Thunderhawks, as senior running back Will Mahone finished with 102 yards on 21 carries and junior quarterback Eric Eichler rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Eichler also scored through the air when he found senior Keith Brady for a 26-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter that put East ahead 21-7.

After Lakota West added a touchdown by way of a 16-yard pass from junior quarterback Malik Grove to junior wide receiver Tyler Jones late in the second quarter, Lakota East got on the board first in the second half when senior safety Rob Harpring returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown to give East a 27-14 advantage.

West would add another score when Grove scored on a 1-yard run, cutting the lead to 27-21 in the third quarter.

However, trailing with 2 minutes left in the game, senior Nate Mays clinched the win for Lakota East when he intercepted Grove and returned it 25 yards for the touchdown.

For West, who started the year 8-0 for the first time in school history, the loss likely eliminates the team from postseason play and ends the 2012 season with back-to-back losses to Colerain and Lakota East.

“This team deserves a better fate,” Lakota West head coach Larry Cox said.

“I think we are a playoff team, but it is not looking good. That is a bitter pill to swallow because if we can take the No. 1 seed (Colerain) to the end of a game then we deserve to be there … but the system will not allow it.”

LW – Horton 13-yard run (Martin kick)
LE – Palmore 25-yard run (Smith kick)
LE – Eichler 3-yard run (Smith kick)
LE – Brady 26-yard pass from Eichler (Smith kick)
LW – Jones 16-yard pass from Grove (Martin kick)
LE – Harpring 56-yard punt return (kick block)
LW – Grove 1-yard run (Martin Kick)
LE – Mays 25-yard touchdown return (kick failed)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown Lakota East, computer rankings, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Jake Chestnut, Jake Chestnut Lakota East, Justin Martin, Justin Martin Lakota West, Kole Gentry, Kole Gentry Lakota West, Kyle Meadows, Kyle Meadows Lakota West, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Luke Scott, Luke Scott Lakota West, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton Lakota West, Nate Mays, Nate Mays Lakota East, Nick Bengal, Nick Bengal Lakota West, Ohio football computer ranking, Ohio football rankings, Tyler Cross, Tyler Cross Lakota West, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Lakota East 33, Lakota West 21 - final – Lakota East senior Derek Sasthav just intercepted Lakota West junior quarterback Malik Grove with 1:42 left in 4th quarter.

Lakota East 33, Lakota West 21 - 2:00 left in 4th quarter – Lakota East junior Nate Mays just intercepted Lakota West junior quarterback Malik Grove’s pass with 2 minutes to play. West now trails by 12 points with under two minutes to play.

Lakota East 27, Lakota West 21 - 4:33 left in 4th quarter – Lakota East just converted a 4-and-2 from the Lakota West 43-yard line with a 3-yard run by senior Will Mahone. That play gives Mahone 101 yards on 20 carries. More importantly, the play gives East the opportunity to run more clock.

Lakota East 27, Lakota West 21 - 8:21 left in 4th quarter – Lakota East was driving down the field, but junior Eric Eichler fumbled the snap which was recovered by senior defensive end Luke Scott at the Lakota West 20-yard line. However, the Firebirds just went 3-and-out.

Lakota East 27, Lakota West 21 – 3:09 left in 3rd quarter – Lakota West junior Malik Grove scored on a 1-yard TD run. On the previous play, Grove connected with junior Tyler Jones on a 59-yard pass play.

Lakota East 27, Lakota West 14 – 8:57 left in 3rd quarter – Lakota West drove down to the 3-yard line, but Lakota West junior Malik Grove threw an interception in the endzone on 4th-and-goal to Lakota East senior Tyler Schlensker.

Lakota East 27, Lakota West 14 – 10:24 left in the 3rd quarter – Lakota West went 3-and-out on the first possession of the second half. Lakota East senior Rob Harpring then returned the punt 56 yards for the touchdown. (more…)

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Tags: Tags: Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown Lakota East, computer rankings, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Jake Chestnut, Jake Chestnut Lakota East, Justin Martin, Justin Martin Lakota West, Kole Gentry, Kole Gentry Lakota West, Kyle Meadows, Kyle Meadows Lakota West, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Luke Scott, Luke Scott Lakota West, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton Lakota West, Nate Mays, Nate Mays Lakota East, Nick Bengal, Nick Bengal Lakota West, Ohio football computer ranking, Ohio football rankings, Tyler Cross, Tyler Cross Lakota West, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Lakota East junior Nate Mays scores a touchdown in a win against Middletown this season. Lakota East and Lakota West both head into this Friday’s rivalry with a lot at stake. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com.

For the 15th time since Lakota High School split into two schools, students, alumni, faculty, parents and fans will pack a football stadium this Friday at 7:30 p.m. to witness Lakota East and Lakota West battle in one of the region’s top rivalries.

But there is more on the line than just football bragging rights.

There are principals who could end up having their faces drilled with pie or forced to wear the opposing school’s colors, depending on which Lakota school wins the annual food drive. There is also spirit week, as well as pizza parties and other prizes to win in the days leading up to the game.

“Even though we both will compete hard on the field Friday night and in the food drive, at the end of the day, the best of Lakota will shine through,” said Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, whose school will host the game this season.

Card is sweating the food drive, which produced more than 19,000 pounds of donated food for Reach Out Lakota last fall, because the losing principal will have to switch spiritwear after the winning school is announced at halftime. That principal will then have don those colors during the second half of the game and on the following Monday at school.

Lakota West senior wide receiver Grant Pence tries to avoid defenders in a 57-44 loss at Colerain last Friday. The loss was the first of the season for the Firebirds, who could lock up a playoff spot with a win against rival Lakota East this week. The Thunderhawks, however, could sneak into the postseason with a win and some help. Photo taken by Greg Loring.

When it comes to the game, If history is any indication of what could happen, Lakota East principal Suzanna Davis might be one who needs to worry as her Thunderhawks have lost seven straight to Lakota West and haven’t beaten the Firebirds since 2004.

It did appear last fall, that the streak was going to end until Lakota West quarterback Malik Grove threw a touchdown pass to then senior Kayuane Ross with 31.9 seconds left to go, giving West a 25-20 win.

Last season’s loss was the third time that Lakota East came up just short since its win in 2004, losing to West 30-27 in overtime in 2005 and by the score of 20-19 in 2008.

This season’s game will likely be even more meaningful, as playoff spots are on line. Lakota West (8-1 overall, 5-1 in the Greater Miami Conference), which is No. 6 in the OHSAA Region 4 computer rankings (top 8 teams qualify for postseason), needs a win to lock up its first playoff berth since 2009.

Meanwhile, Lakota East (6-3 overall, 4-2 in the GMC), which is No. 11 in the computer rankings, could possibly sneak in the postseason with a win and some help.

“Obviously, it is something we think about because our goal is play in Week 11, but I know some of that stuff is out of our hands in terms of what other teams do,” said Lakota East head coach Rick Haynes, who hopes to lead East to its first-ever postseason appearance. “So our focus needs to be on playing the best we can and winning this football game.”

In order to win the game, Lakota East will rely heavily on its running game, which is ranked second in the GMC with an average of 292 rushing yards per game. Leading the potent attack is senior Will Mahone with 963 yards and 15 touchdowns on 157 carries. The No. 2 back, Chamada Palmore, who has rushed for 479 yards and two scores on 62 carries, could be back after breaking his knuckles in a game against Sycamore on Oct. 5.

Ironically, Lakota West’s top rusher this season, Mikel Horton, led Lakota East in rushing as a sophomore last season. Horton, whose family moved prior to the school year, has rushed for 955 yards and 12 touchdowns on 187 carries this fall.

Horton is an exception, as many of these student athletes have stayed on the same team for their entire high school careers. On Friday, a total of 48 seniors combined between the two schools will take part in their last East/West game.

“These kids have all grown up playing together,” Lakota West head coach Larry Cox said. “This is sort of the end of football for a lot of them and something they would obviously like to hang their hat on.

“This game will be a heavyweight battle.”

Impact players

Lakota East Thunderhawks

• Jr.. QB Eric Eichler – 23-of-44 passes for 339 yards, 6 TDs and 1 INT, 470 rushing yards and 8 TDs on 111 carries
• Sr. RB Will Mahone – 963 rushing yards and 15 TDs on 157 carries
• Jr. RB Bobby Brown – 339 rushing yards and 2 TDs on 53 carries, 98 receiving yards and 1 TD on 7 catches
• Jr. OL Jarrett LaRubbio – offers from Akron and Pittsburgh
• Jr. WR/DB/KR Nate Mays – 185 receiving yards and 5 TDs on 12 catches, 25.5 KR average, 3 INTs
• Sr. LB Jake Chestnut – leads team with 52 total tackles (4 for loss) and 2 pass breakups
• Sr. LB Keith Brady – 32 total tackles (4.5 for loss), 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble
• Sr. RB Chamada Palmore – Been out last two weeks with injury, hopes to return – 479 rushing yards and 2 TDs on 62 carries

Lakota West Firebirds

• Jr. QB Malik Grove – 72-of-158 passes for 948 yards, 10 TDs and 6 INTs, 499 rushing yards and 10 TDs on 94 carries
• Jr. RB Mikel Horton – 955 rushing yards and 12 TDs on 187 carries
• Soph. RB Kole Gentry – 435 rushing yards and 6 TDs on 70 carries
• Jr. K/WR/TE Justin Martin – 84 yards and 2 TDs on 7 catches; made 9-of-12 FGs and 34-38 EPs
• 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 44 tackles
• Sr. DB Tyler Cross – 6 INTs (school record), 3 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick
• Sr. DB Nick Bengal – Played all season with two broken wrists – leads team with 8 pass breakups, also has 32 total tackles and a blocked kick

For game story, check back here on WestChesterBuzz.com

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown Lakota East, computer rankings, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Jake Chestnut, Jake Chestnut Lakota East, Justin Martin, Justin Martin Lakota West, Kole Gentry, Kole Gentry Lakota West, Kyle Meadows, Kyle Meadows Lakota West, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Luke Scott, Luke Scott Lakota West, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mikel Horton, Mikel Horton Lakota West, Nate Mays, Nate Mays Lakota East, Nick Bengal, Nick Bengal Lakota West, Ohio football computer ranking, Ohio football rankings, Tyler Cross, Tyler Cross Lakota West, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Lakota East sophomore Hayden Senger races for a 78-yard touchdown run in a game against Fairfield Oct. 19, 2012. Lakota East won the game 41-28. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos of this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/101912fairfield_east

Lakota East snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating Fairfield by the score of 41-28 at the Hawks Nest Friday night.

Pacing the Thunderhawks’ rushing attack was senior Will Mahone, who rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries in the win. Overall, as a team, Lakota East rushed for a total of 372 yards.

After Mahone’s third and final touchdown, Lakota East led 41-7 in the third quarter.

Teammate, sophomore Hayden Senger, also had a big game for Lakota East throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass and scoring on a 78-yard run.

In the fourth quarter, Fairfield added three touchdowns to make the score closer. All three of those touchdowns came on pass plays from senior quarterback Ryan Nuss to junior Herman Brunis, who finished with six receptions for 138 yards.

The win improves Lakota East’s record to 6-3 overall and 4-2 within the Greater Miami Conference. Fairfield, on the other hand, falls to 2-7 overall and 0-6 in the GMC.

LE – Senger 78-yard run (Smith kick)
LE – Mays 19-yard pass from Senger (Smith kick)
F – Harris 22-yard run (Nuss kick)
LE – Mahone 4-yard run (kick failed)
LE – Mahone 33-yard run (Smith kick)
LE – Chestnut blocked punt recovery (Smith kick)
LE – Mahone 2-yard run (Smith kick)
F – Brunis 20-yard pass from Nuss (Nuss kick)
F – Brunis 17-yard pass from Nuss (Nuss kick)
F – Brunis 35-yard pass from Nuss (Nuss kick)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown Lakota East, Chamada Palmore, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Fairfield, Fairfield football, Herman Brunis, Jimmy Trauthwein, Johnathan Byrd, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Miles Harris, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Mason senior Darryl Johnson rushed for a career-high 229 yards and scored two touchdowns on 33 carries to lead Mason to a 28-13 win against Lakota East Oct. 12. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos of this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/101212east_mason

Lakota East (5-3 overall, 3-2 in the Greater Miami Conference) will try to rebound from back-to-back losses when it hosts Fairfield (2-6 overall, 0-5 in the GMC) this Friday at 7:30 p.m. Last Friday, Lakota East lost on the road against Mason by the score of 28-13, while Fairfield lost to Colerain by the score of 65-6.

Fairfield: After winning its first two games of the season, the Indians have lost six straight and all five of their games against GMC opponents. Just in the past two weeks, Fairfield has been outscored 120 to 19 in losses against Colerain and Mason. Despite the blowouts, Fairfield nearly upset Sycamore (now 7-1 overall, 4-1 in the GMC), falling 48-41, on Sept. 28. Statistically, Fairfield is led by senior quarterback Miles Harris, who is second in the GMC with 886 passing yards, and has completed 56-of-99 passes for 8 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Harris’ top targets are junior Herman Brunis (308 yards and 1 touchdown on 18 receptions), senior Jimmy Trauthwein (256 yards and 3 touchdowns on 16 receptions) and senior Johnathan Byrd (184 yards and 1 touchdown on 13 receptions). On defense, senior defensive back Mike Williams has three sacks, one fumble recovery and two interceptions. Overall, Fairfield is averaging 238 yards and 21.1 points per game on offense and is allowing 381.5 yards and 36.6 points per game on defense. Compared to other GMC teams, the Indians are ranked No. 9 out of 10 in both categories.

Lakota East: Two weeks ago, the Thunderhawks were No. 6 in Ohio High School Athletic Association’s region 4 computer rankings (top eight qualify for postseason) and were on pace to qualify for the postseason for the first time in school history. Two losses later, 28-7 against Sycamore on Oct. 5 and 28-13 at Mason on Oct. 12, Lakota East is now No. 12 in the computer rankings. The Thunderhawks, however, are still in the top ten in The Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll at No. 8. Statistically, senior running back Will Mahone is the team’s leading rusher with 787 yards and 12 touchdowns on 134 carries. Other key members of Lakota East’s triple-option attack include junior quarterback Eric Eichler (437 yards and 8 touchdowns on 103 carries), senior running back Chamada Palmore (479 yards and 2 touchdowns on 62 carries) and junior running back Bobby Brown (284 yards and 2 touchdowns on 46 carries). Overall, Lakota East is averaging 324.4 yards and 28.6 points per game on offense and is allowing 276.3 yards and 17.8 points per game on defense. Compared to other GMC teams, the Thunderhawks are ranked No. 6 on offense and No. 5 on defense out of 10 programs.

Bottom line: Excluding the Sycamore game, the Indians have been outscored 193 to 53 in their other four GMC games this fall. If that trend continues, Lakota East should be able to snap its two-game losing streak. However, if Fairfield’s close game at Sycamore in late September shows anything – it is anything can happen on any given Friday.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown Lakota East, Chamada Palmore, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Fairfield, Fairfield football, Herman Brunis, Jimmy Trauthwein, Johnathan Byrd, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Miles Harris, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Lakota East senior Will Mahone rushed for 138 yards and had a touchdown on 20 carries, but it wasn’t enough as Lakota East lost to Mason Oct. 12. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos of this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/101212east_mason

After getting out to a 5-1 start and ranking as high as No. 6 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s region 4 computer rankings (top eight qualify for postseason), the Lakota East football team has lost two straight games to Greater Miami Conference opponents.

Impressive performances by their opponent’s featured running back played large roles in both losses. In the 28-7 loss last Friday to Sycamore, junior Greg Simpson totaled 193 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. This past Friday, in a 28-13 loss at Mason, senior Darryl Johnson rushed for a career-high 229 yards and scored two touchdowns on 33 carries. Johnson also caught two passes for 23 yards.

In the loss to Mason, Lakota East senior Will Mahone gave the Thunderhawks a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter when he punched in a 1-yard touchdown run.

Mason quickly responded with a 20-yard pass play from junior Jensen Harris to senior Adam Osika, which gave the Comets a 7-6 lead.

Again in the second quarter, both teams traded scores. First, Lakota East junior quarterback Eric Eichler scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 13-7 with 1:30 left in the first half. Then, with 30 seconds left until halftime, senior Jalen Mayo scored on a 12-yard pass from Harris – giving Mason a 14-13 lead at the break.

In the second half, the Thunderhawks failed to score, while Johnson rushed for two touchdowns.

Other standouts for Mason included Harris, who completed 12-of-16 passes for 174 yards (also had two interceptions) and Osika, who caught seven passes for 97 yards.

Lakota East, once again, received a solid performance from Mahone, who finished with 138 yards on 20 carries. Through eight games this season, Mahone has rushed for 787 yards and 12 touchdowns on 134 carries.

Next week, Lakota East (5-3 overall, 3-2 in the GMC) will host Fairfield (2-6 overall, 0-5 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m.

LE – Mahone 1-yard run (kick failed)
M – Osika 20-yard pass from Harris (Peck kick)
LE – Eichler 1-yard run (Smith kick)
M – Mayo 12-yard pass from Harris (Pick kick)
M – Johnson 1-yard run (Peck kick)
M – Johnson 9-yard run (Peck kick)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Darryl Johnson, Darryl Johnson Mason, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East Sports, Mason football, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Lakota East junior quarterback Eric Eichler runs with the football during what turned out to be a 28-7 loss against Sycamore Oct. 5, 2012. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos of this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/100512syc_east

Lakota East (5-2 overall, 3-1 in the Greater Miami Conference), which is ranked No. 7 in The Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll, will visit No. 10 Mason (4-3 overall, 2-2 in the GMC) this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Thunderhawks are coming off a 28-7 loss against Sycamore, while Mason enters the game after defeating Fairfield 55-13 last week.

Lakota East: The Thunderhawks fell from No. 6 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s region 4 computer rankings to No. 11 this week after losing 28-7 to Sycamore last Friday. In order to qualify for the postseason, Lakota East will have to finish among the top eight teams when the final computer report is released Oct. 28. Helping the team try to qualify for its first-ever postseason appearance is senior running back Will Mahone, who has rushed for 649 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games this season. His junior teammate, quarterback Eric Eichler, has thrown for six touchdowns and ran for seven more this fall.

Mason: The Comets’ two losses in GMC play occurred against Lakota West and Colerain, two teams that are currently undefeated this fall. Meanwhile, in Mason’s four wins this season, senior running back Darryl Johnson is averaging 189 rushing yards per game. In the three losses, Johnson is averaging around 96 yards per game. Mason’s other standouts include senior offensive lineman Elijah Nkansah (verbal commitment to Toledo), senior defensive back Corey Quallen (offers from Cincinnati, multiple MAC schools), senior defensive back Randy Anderson (interest from Miami) and senior linebacker Andrew Hauser (interest from Miami).

Bottom line: The two schools have one common opponent this season. Lakota East defeated Hamilton, 56-0, while Mason defeated that same Hamilton team 35-14. If Lakota East wants to get back in the playoff picture, it will have to win this Friday. There doesn’t appear to be a clear favorite in this game.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East Sports, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Lakota East junior Nate Mays scores a touchdown on a 27-yard pass from junior quarterback Eric Eichler to make the score 20-7 in the second quarter. Lakota East went on to defeat Middletown by the score of 34-20. Photo taken Sept. 21, 2012 by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos of this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/092112mid_east.

After Middletown senior quarterback Jalin Marshall scored on an 81-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter, Lakota East scored 20 straight points en route to a 34-20 win at the Hawks Nest Friday night.

Marshall, who has committed to play football at Ohio State, rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 7-of-17 passes for 80 yards and another score.

It wasn’t enough, however, as the Thunderhawks rushed for 348 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries as a team.

Leading the Lakota East rushing attack were seniors Will Mahone, who rushed for 113 yards and a score on 14 carries, and Chamada Palmore, who rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Junior quarterback Eric Eichler added 83 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Eichler also threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to junior Nate Mays.

The win was Lakota East’s first against Middletown since 2005. Prior to the win, the Middies had beaten the Thunderhawks four straight times.

With the win, Lakota East improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Greater Miami Conference, while Middletown falls to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the GMC.

The Thunderhawks will likely be moving up in The Cincinnati Enquirer Division coaches’ poll after this win. Heading into the game, Lakota East was ranked No. 10 and Middletown was No. 6.

Next Friday at 7:30 p.m., Lakota East will be at Hamilton (2-2 overall, 0-1 in GMC) and Middletown will host Oak Hills (3-2 overall, 1-1 in GMC).

M – Marshall 81-yard un (Henry kick)
LE – Palmore 38-yard run (kick failed)
LE – Mahone 3-yard run (Smith kick)
LE – Mays 27-yard pass from Eichler (Smith kick)
M – Hasan 12-yard pass from Marshall (Henry kick)
LE – Eichler 5-yard run (run failed)
LE – Eichler 8-yard run (Eichler run)
M – Marshall 2-yard run (kick failed)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Chamada Palmore, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Jalin Marshall, Jalin Marshall Ohio State, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Middletown football, Nate Mays, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East

Winton Woods defeated Lakota East, 25-20, and Middletown, 50-13, this fall. Photo taken Aug. 31, 2012 by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos of this game, Winton Woods at Lakota East visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/083112ww_east

Lakota East (3-1 overall, 1-0 in GMC), which is No. 10 in The Cincinnati Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll, will host No. 6 Middletown (2-2 overall, 1-0 in GMC) Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Thunderhawks are coming off a 40-20 win at Oak Hills, while Middletown is fresh off a 41-26 win against Fairfield.

Middletown: Entering the season, considered to be one of the best teams in the region and possibly in the state, Middletown has had a disappointing start losing a heartbreaker to St. Xavier, 43-39, in its opener and suffering an uncharacteristic blowout loss at Winton Woods, 51-13, in Week 3. While the 2-2 record is surprising, the play of senior quarterback Jalin Marshall is not. The Ohio State commit currently leads the Middies with 551 yards on 66 carries and five touchdowns, and has completed 22 of his 48 pass attempts for 311 yards and six touchdowns with only one interception. Marshall and the Middies didn’t play Lakota East in 2011, but they did defeat the Thunderhawks, 49-35, in 2010. In that game, Marshall, as a sophomore, rushed for 308 and three touchdowns on 20 carries and threw for another score. Offensively this fall, sophomore running back Yvonte Glover has 281 yards on 63 carries and two touchdowns and senior running back William Peters has added 229 yards on 41 carries and three touchdowns. Peters is also Middletown’s leading receiver with six receptions for 102 yards and four touchdowns. Furthermore, Peters has returned five kickoffs for 189 yards (37.8 yards per return) and has a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Defensively, senior Skyler Watkins has 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. As a team, Middletown is averaging around 360 yards of total offense and is giving up an average of around 295 yards per game on defense.

Lakota East: Last fall, the Thunderhawks were in a similar position – starting the year with a 3-1 overall record and winning their first conference game. After that point, Lakota East lost five of its last six games and finished the year with a losing record for the sixth straight season. Back to 2012, the Thunderhawks made the top ten in the coaches’ poll for the first time this fall and came in seventh in the Region 4 OHSAA computer rankings this week (top eight qualify for the postseason). Leading the Thunderhawks is senior running back Will Mahone, who has 394 yards and eight touchdowns on 71 carries this season. Also leading the offense is junior quarterback Eric Eichler, who has rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns on 51 carries, and has 203 passing yards and three touchdown passes with only one interception. Emerging in the 40-20 win at Oak Hills last Friday was senior running back Chamada Palmore, who rushed for 128 yards on 13 carries. Junior running back Nate Mays also had a strong game – catching three passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the win. As a team, Lakota East is averaging around 321 yards of total offense and is giving up an average of about 263 yards per game on defense.

Bottom line: Middletown and Lakota East have a common opponent this year in Winton Woods. The Middies lost their matchup 51-13, while Lakota East lost its by the score of 25-20. Judging on that alone and adding the fact that Lakota East is at home, one would think that the Thunderhawks are the favorite in this game. However, things are not always that simple. Middletown has one of the best high school athletes in the nation (Rivals.com ranks Marshall No. 2 in Ohio and No. 53 in the nation in the class of 2013), who as a sophomore rushed for more than 300 yards and scored four touchdowns in a single game against East. That being said, Middletown will likely be considered the favorite in this game. If Lakota East could get the upset it would be a big boost to the program.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Chamada Palmore, Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Jalin Marshall, Jalin Marshall Ohio State, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Middletown football, Nate Mays, Skyler Watkins, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East, William Peters, Yvonte Glover

Tom Ramstetter reports:

Lakota East raced to a two-touchdown lead four minutes into the game and cruised to a 40-20 win over Oak Hills Friday night at Oak Hills High School in the Greater Miami Conference opener for both football teams.

Junior running back Nate Mays hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Eric Eichler less than three minutes into the game to cap a six-play, 69-yard drive on the opening possession.

It was the first of two touchdown connections between Eichler and Mays in the game.

Oak Hills had the Thunderhawks stopped for a three-and-out on the opening drive, but a facemask call on third down prolonged the drive and Lakota East quickly got into the end zone.

The Highlanders went nowhere on their first possession and a botched snap on a punt play bounced into the end zone where Lakota East senior lineman JT Turner recovered for the second Thunderhawks touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 8:08 to play in the first quarter.

Lakota East added another touchdown with 48 seconds to play before halftime when Eichler took a quarterback keeper 30 yards through the middle for a 21-0 lead, capping a drive that covered 78 yards on nine plays.

While East had the early lead, Oak Hills was not without opportunities to seize the momentum in the first half.

Senior running back Alec Steffen got the Highlanders into Lakota East territory for the first time with a long catch and run to the Thunderhawks 38 with less than a minute to play in the first quarter. The Highlanders stalled there, however, and a fake punt gained four yards when 12 were required.

A failed field goal attempt by Lakota East junior Nick Gasser and a fumble recovery by Oak Hills junior defensive back Khiren Beamon at the Oak Hills 39 also could not kick-start the Highlanders.

Oak Hills finally got on the board on a 16-yard touchdown run by senior Hogan Burns around the left side with 10:31 to play in the third quarter. The Highlanders went 75 yards in four plays on the scoring drive.

The Highlanders had a chance to again cut into the lead when Eichler was stopped for a loss on fourth down at the Oak Hills 29 midway through the third quarter. The Highlanders quickly entered East territory, but an interception by senior defensive back Derek Sasthav got the ball back for the Thunderhawks and Oak Hills never threatened again.

The Thunderhawks put the game away with 10 minutes to play in the game with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Eichler to Mays on play-action to make the score 28-6, one play after Lakota East recovered a fumbled punt by the Highlanders.

Oak Hills fell to 2-2 after a 2-0 start. The Highlanders were shut out last week at Loveland on only 22 yards on offense and three first downs.

Lakota East has won two straight.

LE-Mays 33 pass from Eichler (Gasser kick)
LE-Turner fumble recovery in end zone (Gasser kick)
LE-Eichler 30 run (Gasser kick)
OH-Burns 16 run (kick failed)
LE-Mays 38 pass from Eichler (Gasser kick)
OH-11 run (Merk kick)
LE-Mahone 4 run (kick failed)
OH-Burns 63 pass from Sallquist (Merk kick)
LE-Mahone 27 run (kick failed)

Records: LE 3-1, 1-0 GMC; OH 2-2, 0-1.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Eric Eichler, Eric Eichler Lakota East, Gaven Kenerly, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Nate Mays, Shemar Hooks, Will Mahone, Will Mahone Lakota East