The #2 seed in Region 4 of the OHSAA Division 1 playoff bracket, with a 10-1 record, the Firebirds came in confident they could make a deep run in the playoffs led by coach Tom Bolden. The opposing team, heavy underdogs, the #7 seed Panthers, came in with a 6-5 record led by coach Doug Ramsey. Don’t let that record deceive you though–this Panthers team is tough, playing in the GCL and coming in with a will to win. Lakota West defensive lineman Vincent Giordano, who had two sacks Friday night, said “We knew it was going to be a physical battle”.
The game started with a bang. Elder blocked Kofi Adobofuor’s field goal on Lakota West’s first drive. Later in the first quarter, however, West would get the football back and score a touchdown on a 14-yard Sam Wiles scramble to take a 7-0 lead.
The second quarter was where things started to get strange, as Elder would have a field goal of their own blocked by Lakota West. Not capitalizing in the red zone would be the story of the night for the Panthers, as on their next drive they had a failed fourth-down conversion. Those empty possessions hurt Elder when they had opportunities to take the lead in the first half. The half would end with West holding onto a 7-0 lead amid a defensive battle.
Elder would finally get points on the board in the 3rd quarter as they took advantage of the deep ball that the Firebirds defense has struggled with all season. Kaden Estep would find his go-to target Joey Thamann in the endzone for a 41-yard game-tying touchdown. The Firebirds would then fumble the ensuing kickoff return setting up great field position for Elder where they would capitalize on a Kaden Estep 28-yard touchdown run. The third quarter would end with the Firebirds in a very vulnerable position, down 14-7.
` The fourth quarter is where the Firebird’s luck would change, as they would recover a fumble inside Elder’s 10-yard line and score on a 1-yard touchdown run from Sam Wiles. Wiles would then score the go-ahead touchdown with 2:20 left in the game, and Lakota West would lead 20-14 after a blocked extra point by Elder. With one chance left to win the game, Elder was unable to convert on 4th and 11, and it would seal a gritty Firebirds victory.
When asked about the fight Lakota West showed, Giordano said, “We’ve been in situations like this before, and we prevailed so it was awesome”.
Looking ahead to next week, Lakota West will play #6 seed St. Xavier at a neutral site in a rematch of the week 1 game where the Firebirds won 17-13. The winner will move onto the regional finals.
