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Lakota West defeats Lancaster for first win of season

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By Steven Matthews, Staff Writer 11:20 PM Friday, September 4, 2009

Lakota West High’s football team made the most of its first-ever match-up against Lancaster.

And at the same time, the Firebirds picked up their first win of the 2009 season.

West jumped out to a 17-0 lead and held on for a 24-12 triumph over the Gales on Friday night, Sept. 4, in its first game on the new synthetic turf at Firebird Field.

“It was fun,” senior running back Jordan Thompson said. “We came out and just had fun. We did what we like to do. We ran the football.”

It was Thompson who stole the show with his legs.

Thompson rushed for a career-high 204 yards on 21 carries and a pair of touchdowns, including a 77-yarder on the second play of the third quarter.

“It was nice to see Jordan Thompson pick it up a little bit and get his carries and get his yardage,” West coach Larry Cox said.

The Gales (0-2) cut the deficit to 17-12 on two Nathan Carpenter rushing scores, but senior Mark Fowler returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown with 8.5 seconds to go in the third frame.

“That was a momentum killer,” Cox said. “When I want my seniors to step up, they do a good job.”

Lancaster had one last chance to put some points on the board in the fourth quarter.

The Gales drove deep into Firebird territory, but after converting two straight fourth-down conversions, Connor Smith was stopped short on a fourth-and-3 attempt.

The Firebirds (1-1) iced the game away with Thompson, who had a two-yard TD run with 5:38 to go in the opening quarter.

Aaron Phelan booted a 31-yard field goal later in the first frame for West’s 10-0 halftime advantage.

Lancaster coach Rob Carpenter refused to comment after the game, stating, “I’m not talking.”

West senior tight end Alex Smith dressed but did not play due to “disciplinary reasons,” Cox said.

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

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