Three Lakota programs take the field Tuesday night to open the 2026 fall season, and the week's main event arrives Friday when No. 10 Lakota West football hosts No. 16 St. Xavier at Firebird Stadium.
Tuesday's schedule
Lakota West girls volleyball hosts Talawanda at 6 p.m. in the Firebirds' season opener. Lakota West boys soccer travels to Springboro for a 7:15 p.m. kickoff, while Lakota East boys soccer visits Little Miami at 7 p.m.
The Firebirds' boys soccer squad already has a match under its belt. Keegan Sexton scored both goals, including a 70th-minute equalizer, in a 2-2 draw at Centerville on Aug. 14, according to Yahoo Sports.
Friday football: St. Xavier at Lakota West, Aug. 21
The marquee matchup of opening week kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Firebird Stadium. St. Xavier holds a 4-2 edge in the series since head coach Tom Bolden took over the Firebirds in 2019, including a 14-7 Bombers victory last season that launched St. Xavier's run to the state finals.
But the Firebirds return firepower. Senior quarterback Jackson Smith is back for his third year as starter, senior running back Kenyon Norman returns and senior tight end Xavier Ratica, verbally committed to Louisville, gives Lakota West a proven target. All six Cincinnati Enquirer writers picked Lakota West to win.
Sophomore J.T. Muñoz, grandson of Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz, is expected to see an increased role in certain offensive packages this season, WCPO reported July 27. Smith remains the starter.
"I feel like we're definitely under the radar," Ratica told WCPO in late July. "Last year, we just didn't put out the outcome that we wanted. A lot of people are kind of judging us based off of that, which I don't blame (them) for, but I feel like this year we're going to open a lot of eyes with how we're going to come out playing."
Lakota West went 7-5 in 2025. St. Xavier, meanwhile, graduated most of its offensive playmakers and several Division I defensive recruits from that state-finalist squad and enters 2026 with a new starting quarterback.
The Firebirds are ranked No. 10 in Ohio and No. 4 in the Cincinnati area by MaxPreps; St. Xavier checks in at No. 16 statewide.
Lakota East football opens Friday too
Lakota East hosts Centerville at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, in the Thunderhawks' season opener. East finished second in the GMC All Sports standings for the second consecutive year in 2025-26, as we reported Aug. 10.
What's next
Lakota West girls volleyball welcomes Anderson on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m. Lakota West boys soccer hosts Worthington Kilbourne on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 3 p.m. The Firebirds' second football game is Friday, Aug. 28, at home against crosstown rival Lakota East.
