Lakota West carries a five-game conference winning streak and a 1,000-yard rusher to Middletown on Saturday, Oct. 3 for a matchup between the Greater Miami Conference's (GMC) second-place teams.
The Firebirds (5-1, 4-1 GMC) and Middletown (4-2, 4-1) are tied behind unbeaten Princeton (6-0, 5-0), according to The Report Ohio's Week 7 preview. A loss by either team would likely end its conference title hopes.
Senior running back Kenyon Norman, a Northwestern commit, has piled up 1,036 yards and 16 touchdowns through six games. The Report Ohio called him one of Southwest Ohio's most productive backs this season. Norman set the tone early in 2026, rushing for 262 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries in the Firebirds' 48-18 rivalry win over Lakota East on Aug. 29.
Lakota West leads the GMC at 395.4 yards of total offense per conference game. The defensive matchup is just as tight: both the Firebirds and Middletown have allowed just 69 points through five GMC games.
The Firebirds' only loss came Sept. 19 at Princeton, 27-24, when Jordan Hall scored with 3:20 remaining. Lakota West rebounded with a 38-7 rout of Fairfield the following week. Middletown has won four straight after an 0-2 start, including a 41-0 blowout of Sycamore.
Lakota East at Fairfield
Lakota East (4-2, 3-2 GMC) travels to Fairfield (2-4, 1-4) on Saturday, Oct. 3 looking to rebound after Princeton ended the Thunderhawks' three-game winning streak with a 48-22 victory on Sept. 25.
The loss stung. Head coach Jon Kitna told the Journal-News after the Sept. 25 defeat: "In a game like this, let's be honest, when you're outmatched, you can't be wrong. You can't miss things, and we missed too much."
Junior quarterback Nile Knutson has completed 115 of 168 passes for 1,422 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. His top targets, senior wide receiver Braxton Thurman (541 receiving yards) and Carter Jones (440 yards, five touchdowns), give the Thunderhawks one of the GMC's most dangerous passing attacks.
Fairfield enters the matchup having dropped four of its last five games. The Indians' most recent loss was a 38-7 defeat at Lakota West, the same Firebirds team Middletown must now face.
Lakota West needs a win Saturday to stay within striking distance of Princeton. Lakota East can strengthen its playoff case against a Fairfield squad that has managed just one GMC victory all season.
