Week 1: Lakota West

R

ReLoad

Moderator
The Bombers open the 2023 season at home vs the Lakota West Firebirds
X lost to LW 16-13 in last season’s opener
Lakota West finished 13-1 losing to Moeller 38-20 in the regional final.

X is 4-2 all time vs Lakota West
2006 X won 44-3 1st Round at Ballaban Field
2018 X won 34-0 Week 1 at Paul Brown Stadium
2020 X won 10-7 4th Round at Firebird Stadium
2021 X won 31-14 Week 1 at Ballaban Field
2021 X lost 12-2 3rd Round at Princeton HS
2022 X lost 16-13 Week 1 at Firebird Stadium

The head coaches (Specht and Bolden) have squared off 24 times since 2007 with each coach victorious half the time.
 
 
Gone from last year’s defense are 4 star recruits Malik Hartford (Ohio State), Ben Minich (Notre Dame) and Josh Fussell (Northwestern)
Dotting this season’s defense are multiple 3 star recruits

LW Defense
LE #90 Elijah Davis Sr. 6’1” 285lb 3 star Akron commit
NG #95 Jonas Griffith Sr. 6’0” 285lb
RE #97 Gabe Flores Sr. 6’2” 241lb
OLB #44 Micah Markley Jr. 6’1” 205lb
MLB #33 Grant Beerman Jr. 6’4” 210lb 3 star offers from Cincinnati, Duke, MAC schools
OLB #11 Jacob Asbeck Sr. 6’1” 196lb 3 star offers from Navy, Army and Butler
FS #16 Cam Thomas So. 6’4” 200lb offers from EKU, Akron, Marshall, Georgia Tech
SS #3 Taebron Bennie-Powell Sr. 6’1” 182lb 3 star Notre Dame commit
S #10 Drew Minich Sr. 6’2” 185lb offers from Air Force, Army, Navy, Akron
CB #12 Bukari Miles Sr. 6’1” 180lb offer from EKU transfer from Lakota East
CB ????
 
Offensively the Firebird's graduated their entire line, 4 year starting QB Mitch Bolden, top receiver/rusher Trent Lloyd and defensive stars Hartford and Minich who pulled double duty as receivers.

They do have 6 skill players of note

TE #88 Luka Gilbert Sr. 6’7” 225lb 4 star 8 D1 offers: likely Ohio State commit; as a junior only 5 catches for 89 yards
RB #26 Jiovianni Wilson Sr. 5’10” 165lb; as a junior 39 carries for 264 yards and 23 catches for 273 yards and 4 TDs
WR #14 Brennan Remy Sr. 6’0” 175lb; as a junior 46 catches for 665 yards and 10 TDs
RB #24 Junior Gonzalez Sr 5’11” 210lb; as a junior 40 carries for 193 yards and 3 TDs, 14 catches for 286 yards and 4 TDs
WR/SS #3 Taebron Bennie-Powell Sr. 6’1” 182lb 3 star Notre Dame commit (2 way player)
WR Trey Barnette Jr. 6’1” 165lb transfer from Dixie Heights was 2nd team All Kentucky last season as a sophomore
 
To replace 4 year starter Mitch Bolden at QB, head coach Tom Bolden mentions 4 candidates: senior Nolan Parker, juniors Sam Wiles and Ashton Sheafe and freshman Jackson Smith in this WCPO interview.

www.wcpo.com

'We're real hungry': Lakota West High School football team eager to start a new season

Lakota West football team plays at St. Xavier in the season opener Aug. 18. The Firebirds have been in the regional final the past three seasons.
www.wcpo.com www.wcpo.com

The freshman Smith (6’3” 170lb) is a transfer from Arcanum, north of Dayton who already has offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Florida, NC State and Notre Dame.
 
I think the starting QB at Springfield City last year was a senior transfer from Arcanum or somewhere in the Darke County area. I can't remember the his name though. Arcanum is a fairly rural area NW of Dayton.
 
Bomber Fan said:
I think the starting QB at Springfield City last year was a senior transfer from Arcanum or somewhere in the Darke County area. I can't remember the his name though. Arcanum is a fairly rural area NW of Dayton.
Click to expand...
Apparently Jackson Smith was impressive at Braxton Miller's Elite Charg1ng Camp at Woody Hayes Athletic Center a couple weeks ago.
 
I think Miles transferred last year. I am pretty interested to see if the East to West transfer business continues with Kitna as the coach at LE.

LW looks like a typically constructed Bolden defense- heavy guys up front, speed guys everywhere else. This is a bad matchup for a Coverdale offense/ playcalling, because he doesn't like taking what is given, and insists on trying for the big play. When you don't have a big play guy like Clifford on the outside, the offense sputters- like it did in the '21 season, and at times last year. Maybe Vollmer is that guy, and Taylor showed flashes on JV, as did Betts.

In the opener in '21, X wore out the LW defense in the second half with possession passing and power running, which has always been the way to beat a Bolden defense. They do a great job getting you off the field in a short amount of time, but if you can chunk out 4-5 yards and keep them on the field, they get frustrated and tired. Moeller killed them with this last year. Coverdale needs to adjust and not fall in love with trying to get the ball 15-20 yards downfield every other play.
 
Yes, Bukari transferred from East to West last year.
The WR from Dixie Heights KY transferred this season.
The freshman QB with D1 offers moved down from Arcanum this summer.

Wondering if Kitna sticks around at East after his son graduates

I think you're right about Vollmer being the big play guy this year.
He is 6'2" and nearly 200lbs and looks totally different from frosh year.

The Centerville scrimmage will be telling.
Vollmer and Herbie will probably split snaps.
The running playbook opens up when Vollmer is under center
This is not to sell Herbie short, because he has escapability and when the pocket collapses he can tuck it and run.

I expect the game vs West to be typically low scoring.
In 3 of the 4 previous games the winner scored 10, 12 and 16 points.

Lakota West has high level skill guys but with an inexperienced QB and OLine will have a hard time getting them the ball and in space.
I think the X defense, especially the front 6, have a chance to be disruptive and force turnovers and maybe score some points themselves
 
Bomber 2023 Projected Offense for Opener
QB1 #7 Chase Herbstreit Jr. 6’2” 190lb
QB2 #3 Daniel Vollmer So. 6’2” 205lb
RB1 #4 Steve Napier Sr. 5’9” 190lb
RB2 #21 Gage Patrick Sr. 5’6” 180lb
RB3 #44 Jake Britt So. 6'0" 170lb
RB4 #26 Spencer Stegbauer So. 5'9" 173lb
FB #45 Ty Stegbauer Sr. 5'10" 196lb
WR1 #80 Jack McClatchey Sr. 6’1” 196lb
WR2 #82 Simeon Betts Jr. 6’3” 175lb
WR3 #12 Cam Taylor So. 6’2” 185lb
WR4 #22 Hayden Shamsi Jr. 6’1” 195lb
WR5 #6 Brady Bennett Sr. 6'1" 190lb
TE1 #87 Luke Klare Sr. 6’6” 225lb offers from Valparaiso and Colgate
TE2 #11 Gordy Sulfsted Jr. 6’5” 240lb offer from Pitt
LT #79 Tucker Kattus Jr. 6’5” 290lb offers from Kentucky, Miami OH, Boston College, Michigan, Pitt, Wisconsin
LG #57 Derek Kautzman Sr. 6'1" 267lb
C #75 Andrew Jennings Sr. 6’3” 270lb offers from Carleton, Oberlin and Carnegie Mellon
RG #74 Justin Kattus Sr. 6'1" 220lb
RT #60 Grant Hester So. 6'3" 235lb
 
Last edited:
Bomber 2023 Projected Defense for Opener
RE #90 Nate Brice Sr. 6’0” 229lb
NG #97 Ted Hammond Sr. 6'5” 275lb Michigan commit
LE #11 Gordy Sulfsted Jr. 6’5” 240lb offer from Pitt
OLB (Will) #7 Gus Folke Sr. 6’0” 190lb
MLB (Sam) #8 Noah Beck Sr. 6’2” 225lb Navy commit
OLB (Jet) #10 Kobe Clapper So. 6’2” 195lb
Adj #20 Andrew Weber Sr. 6”0 175lb
FS #2 Jack O’Malley Sr. 6’1” 185lb
SS #5 Lucas Bishop Jr. 5’9” 172lb
CB #28 Shane Strayhorn Jr. 5’11” 170lb
CB #23 Brayden Reilly So. 6'2" 180lb

Special Teams
PR # 20 Andrew Weber Sr. 6'0" 175lb
PK #31 Jake Cengia Sr. 5'7" 160lb
P #45 Trent Maxam Jr. 6'1"155lb
 
Last edited:
The OL looks like it is shaping up and this is a really important piece to the puzzle. The OL won't be as big as previous seasons but I think they have better athletes and that will bold well for the passing game.

I know it is still really early but hearing there are some dynamic athletes on the freshmen team.
 
FourthAndOne said:
The OL looks like it is shaping up and this is a really important piece to the puzzle. The OL won't be as big as previous seasons but I think they have better athletes and that will bold well for the passing game.
Click to expand...
Right now the starting OLine from left to right is 290-267-270-220-235 for an average of 256lb
This is a similar average weight to the 4 state championship teams
2005: 258lb
2007: 268lb
2016: 263lb
2020: 250lb

Justin Kattus at right guard is the smallest at 6'1" 220lb but is tough as nails.
He reminds me of Jack Dirksing also 6'1" 220lb who also switched from DLine to OLine his senior season (2017)
FourthAndOne said:
I know it is still really early but hearing there are some dynamic athletes on the freshmen team.
Click to expand...
Last season's freshman team was loaded and as of now 6 likely will be starting varsity this season as sophomores

Sophomores on Varsity Defense
OLB (Jet) #10 Kobe Clapper So. 6’2” 195lb
CB #23 Brayden Reilly So. 6'2" 180lb

Sophomores on Varsity Offense
QB2 #3 Daniel Vollmer So. 6’2” 205lb
WR3 #12 Cam Taylor So. 6’2” 185lb
RT #60 Grant Hester So. 6'3" 235lb
RB #44 Jake Britt So. 6'0"" 175lb
RB #26 Spencer Stegbauer So. 5'9" 173lb
 
Last edited:
ReLoad said:
Yes, Bukari transferred in from East to West last year.
The WR from Dixie Heights KY transferred this season.
The freshman QB with D1 offers moved down from Arcanum this summer.
Click to expand...
If Bolden were still at Colerain and not LW, would these 3 be Cardinals instead of Firebirds?
Spotted Bolden and his staff at the Centerville scrimmage yesterday
 
ReLoad said:
Sophomores on Varsity Defense
OLB (Jet) #10 Kobe Clapper So. 6’1” 180lb
CB #23 Brayden Reilly So. 6'2" 165lb

Sophomores on Varsity Offense
QB2 #3 Daniel Vollmer So. 6’2” 195lb
WR3 #12 Cam Taylor So. 6’1” 175lb
RT #60 Grant Hester So. 6'2" 250lb
RB #86 Jake Britt So. 5'10" 170lb
Click to expand...
This class (Class of 2026) rivals the classes of 2022 and 2008 regarding sophomores with significant PT on varsity

Class of 2022: OL Cam Collins (Air Force Academy), OL Brian Parker (Duke), Kickoff Max Klare (Purdue), CB Josh Anderson (Dayton), CB Ryan Nolan (Indiana), FS Eli Kirk (Dayton), OL Jack Renneker, PK Mason Rohmiller (Vanderbilt), RB Luke Vrsansky (Air Force Academy for lacrosse)

Class of 2008: WR/K Dan Milligan (Cincinnati), LB Nick Schneider (Yale), LB Lou Miller (Columbia), FS Fred Craig (Stanford/Penn), RB Darius Ashley (Louisville)
 
Sophomores playing Varsity is a good sign for future success and at the same time Leadership has to be just as important. Give me the team captains from the Class of 2021 all day every day which is one of the big reasons STX won the State Title in 2020. Those Senior Captains should all get enshrined into the STX HOF for the Leadership they provided to the team during Covid.
 
ReLoad said:
Sophomores on Varsity Defense
OLB (Jet) #10 Kobe Clapper So. 6’2” 195lb
CB #23 Brayden Reilly So. 6'2" 180lb

Sophomores on Varsity Offense
QB2 #3 Daniel Vollmer So. 6’2” 205lb
WR3 #12 Cam Taylor So. 6’2” 185lb
RT #60 Grant Hester So. 6'3" 235lb
RB #44 Jake Britt So. 6'0"" 175lb
Click to expand...
Using the roster I updated the ht/wt for the 6 sophomores above.
There are a total of 8 sophomores on the varsity roster, the other 2 being

FS #15 Aden Reeder So. 6'2" 190lb
RB #26 Spencer Stegbauer So. 5'9" 173lb
 
Need to break the 2 game losing streak vs Lakota West and get this year off on the right foot.
56% of the 39 Yapsters on the main board who have voted thus far in the poll in the game thread are picking the Bombers
 
L Hand said:
Freshman beat LW 32-26.
Click to expand...
X 32 LW 26

1st Qtr
X 46 yard TD run by #31 RB Colton Castner, XP NG StX 6-0
LW 52 yard TD pass, XP NG StX 6 LW 6
X 44 yard TD run by #6 QB Charlie Johnston, XP NG StX 12 LW 6

2nd Qtr
LW 28 yard TD pass, XP NG StX 12 LW 12
X 83 yard TD punt return by #17 Alex Walker 2pt attempt NG StX 18 LW 12

3rd Qtr
LW 10 yard TD run, XP good LW 19 StX 18
X 10 yard TD pass #4 Thomas George to #24 Anthony DiBattista, 2 pt conversion good StX 26 LW 19
LW 21 yard TD pass, XP good StX 26 LW 26

4th Qtr
X 1 yard TD run RB #22 Max Violet XP NG X 32-26

Bomber Freshmen Defense
DLine: #79 Justin Uhl - #59 Aidan O'Toole - #3 Josh Fasbender
LBs: #43 Nick Klee - #8 Kane Shawger - #77 Bryan Yaecker
Safeties: #18 Jack Charlton - #5 Henry Harmon - #21 Elijah Herms
CBs: #27 Jack Meyer - #15 Chase Schinaman - #38 Matt Szabo

Bomber Freshmen Offense
QBs #6 Charlie Johnston #4 Thomas George
RBs #31 Colton Castner #22 Max Violet #39 Charles Ruehl
WRs #24 Anthony DiBattista, #17 Alex Walker, #37 Logan Van Holle #81 Brayden Breitenbach
TEs #85 Wilson Tiefenbach #89 Garrit Gunter
OLine: #88 Jacob Uhl - #65 Aiden Lowe - #75 Matt Fessel - #61 Isiah Baker - #60 Porter Little
 
FourthAndOne said:
Defense looks pretty athletic.
Click to expand...
The defense held LW to 94 total yards and 7 first downs.
Reilly had 2 INTs and O'Malley 1 INT
Folke and Beck led with 6 tackles a piece.

FourthAndOne said:
Offense has a long ways to go.
Click to expand...
1st possession: 10 play 77 yard TD drive
Herbie 3 for 4 for 53 yards, Britt 5 carries for 24 yards including 10 yard TD run

2nd possession: 13 play 54 yard drive FG attempt blocked
Herbie 6 for 7 for 51 yards
Napier 4 carries for 18 yards

3rd possession: 36 yard FG by Cengia
An interception by Brayden Reilly gave X great field position and after 3 plays failed to get a 1st down Cengia connected

With a 2 score lead midway through the 2nd quarter the Coverdale offense went mega conservative
Herbie would only complete 3 more passes.
The run to pass ratio was 2 to 1 for the game and 5 to 2 after 10-0 lead

Rushing totals: Britt 7 carries for 34 yards, Napier 18 carries for 61 yards and Stegbauer 6 carries for 17 yards
*Vollmer only had 2 carries for 9 yards
 
FourthAndOne said:
There is some serious talent on the StX freshmen team. Love the QBs/WRs. Future is bright for StX
Click to expand...
The freshmen skill guys showed exceptional speed on the first 3 TDs blowing past LW defenders.
1. RB Colton Castner, nephew of the Mason head coach, for a 46 yard TD run over the left side
2. QB Charlie Johnston's 44 yard scamper around the right end.
3. WR/PR Alex Walker on an 83 yard punt return TD absolutely blew past the LW coverage

Center Matt Fessel and the entire DLine (Uhl, O'Toole and Fasbender) have the size and skill to play varsity next season.
 
I was surprised that Britt didn't get more carries the other night after a strong first quarter and TD. But, it'll be a luxury to have multiple RB threats as the season goes on.
 
Bomber Fan said:
I was surprised that Britt didn't get more carries the other night after a strong first quarter and TD. But, it'll be a luxury to have multiple RB threats as the season goes on.
Click to expand...
He's a young guy and fumbled the ball early. After that they pulled the plug.
 
Bomber Fan said:
I was surprised that Britt didn't get more carries the other night after a strong first quarter and TD. But, it'll be a luxury to have multiple RB threats as the season goes on.
Click to expand...
I think Britt and Vollmer will get more carries this Saturday and more as the season goes on.
Those 2 sophomores are the Bomber's best chance to break long TD runs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top