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Thompson's career night sends Firebirds to playoffs

West senior RB rushes for career-best 302 yards in 17-5 win over Lakota East.

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By Steven Matthews, Staff Writer Updated 1:18 AM Saturday, October 31, 2009

LIBERTY TWP. — Time and time again this season, Lakota West High’s football team has called on one player to provide a spark on the offensive side of the ball.

That guy is senior running back Jordan Thompson, and he did it again on Friday night, Oct. 30, at Lakota East.

Thompson’s career night delivered the Firebirds a 17-5 victory — their ninth win in a row, first Greater Miami Conference championship and third playoff berth in school history.

“I have to regain my composure because I can’t even breathe right now,” Thompson said. “We’re here. I don’t know what more to say.”

He let his performance do all the talking.

Thompson rushed for 302 yards on 37 carries and a pair of long touchdowns runs of 78 and 89 yards. In the second half alone, he had 222 yards and both scores.

“If there’s a better player in the area, I want to see him,” West coach Larry Cox said. “He’s our workhorse, and he steps up and does what he’s supposed to do when he’s supposed to do it. In the tight stretches, he wants the ball. He wants to make those plays, and he did.”

The two teams went into intermission tied at 3-3 as East’s Austin Weinheimer (37 yards) and West’s Aaron Phelan (41) traded field goals.

The Firebirds (9-1, 7-0 GMC) quickly struck in the second half on Thompson’s 78-yard dash to paydirt with 8:07 to go in the third quarter.

“I owe it to them,” Thompson said pointing to his offensive line. “It was a tough first half. They came out fighting. We just had to finish like I know we can.”

East then got a safety on a bizarre play when Jordan Hicks’ punt into the strong wind blew back toward him and out of the end zone.

The Thunderhawks (3-7, 3-4), though, had three chances inside the West 30-yard line but were stopped on fourth down twice and intercepted on the other drive.

“You’re not going to beat a good team like that,” East coach Greg Bailie said. “We turned it over on downs and they break the long one (Thompson’s 89-yarder with 11:36 left in the game). I thought our kids played hard and came out ready to play. They gave it all they got and they laid it out on the line. It just didn’t work out.”

East senior Pedro Powell rushed for 177 yards on 36 carries to finish his final campaign with 1,469 yards. Thompson has 1,573 total yards rushing and 19 TDs.

West has won five straight over the Thunderhawks for a 7-5 lead in the all-time series.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.

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