WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — While the Ohio high school football playoffs do not start until next week, the atmosphere said otherwise Friday night at Firebird Stadium.

Lakota West defeated Lakota East 34-7 to win its second straight Greater Miami Conference title in a sold-out stadium of 5,000 fans, renewing the district rivalry that started in 1998. The Firebirds lead the overall series 16-9, including a 14-9 regular-season record.

"What more can you ask for?" Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. "A chance for sole possession in the league, playing your district rival."

The Firebirds led 10-0 at halftime after senior Jyaire Brown's 50-yard interception return with 50 seconds left in the second quarter set up a 15-yard touchdown pass connection from junior quarterback Mitch Bolden to junior wide receiver Trent Lloyd.

Junior kicker Tyler Bohn made a 33-yard field goal on the Firebirds' opening drive of the first quarter.

The Firebirds excelled in all three phases in the second half.

Lakota West (8-1) went ahead 17-0 early in the third quarter after junior Malik Hartford blocked a Thunderhawks' punt and senior Alex Afari returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Afari had a game-high 11 tackles Friday night.

The Firebirds took a 24-0 lead about six minutes later when Mitch Bolden found Lloyd for the second touchdown pass connection of the night. Bolden, the son of Tom Bolden, said the GMC title is very significant for the Firebirds.

"We're building a great tradition here," Mitch Bolden said. "It's something nice."

Bohn made his second field goal of the night early in the fourth quarter to give the Firebirds a 27-7 lead.

Senior running back Cameron Goode scored on a 67-yard touchdown run with 5:23 left, and senior Hannah Duncan's third extra point of the night gave the Firebirds a 34-7 lead. Goode had 11 carries for 107 yards.

"This was definitely a statement game to show everybody in the playoffs we're going to play hard every game," Goode said.

Lakota West entered Friday night as the No. 3 seed in the Division I, Region 4 computer points standings and will likely host a first-round game next week. Lakota East (7-3) will also likely host a first-round game next week, according to Joe Eitel.

The Thunderhawks scored on a 6-yard run by junior quarterback TJ Kathman late in the third quarter. Senior linebacker Charlie Kenrich had a team-high seven tackles, according to game statistics.

The principal placed on leave last month from Lakota East High School will be “reassigned” to a different job in the school system as district officials advertise for her replacement, the superintendent said this week.

In Superintendent Matt Miller’s Facebook chat Wednesday evening, he said that “we did post (advertise) a position for the next principal at Lakota East," the Journal-News reports.

On May 4, according to documents first obtained through a public records request by the Journal-News, then-Lakota East Principal Yejide Mack was ordered on paid leave but no reason was noted in her personnel records though there was a reference to an investigation by district officials of the first-year principal.

“I really can’t comment on the personnel issue with our former principal other than there will be a reassignment in the future,” Miller said during the Facebook Live chat watched by more than 1,000 viewers.

Mack’s attorney, Kelly Mulloy Myers, did not respond to phone or email requests seeking comment.

Mack’s departure coincided with Lakota East’s preparations for its graduation ceremony last month. Under Mack’s supervision, the school had switched from its traditional, gender-specific cap and gown colors of black for boys and white for girls to all black for all students.

Miller later apologized in a message sent to Lakota East school parents and students for the change and said the traditional, gender-specific colors would be restored as was done prior to last month’s commencement ceremony.

As with Mack’s departure last month, Lakota officials again released no announcement Wednesday or Thursday to news media, nor posted any message on the district’s website pertaining to the status for the principal who oversaw a school of more than 2,600 students.

As of Thursday evening, Mack was still listed as principal on the Lakota East High School’s website staff directory.

Lakota East is one of the largest high schools in Ohio according to enrollment, and the Lakota school system, with 16,800 students, is the ninth-largest in the state.

A a review of Mack’s personnel file this week, there was no resignation letter from Mack nor any notation of a change in her employment status beyond the previously released May 4 district directive placing her on leave.

Miller said during his Wednesday online chat the advertisement for candidates for the Lakota East principal’s job was posted for “five or six days now and we’ll close that on Monday.”

“We’re getting some really good applicants on that,” Miller said.

The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO 9 News.