SHARONVILLE, Ohio — Lakota West senior running back Cameron Goode was a bit worried on the sideline down the stretch of Friday night's Division I regional semifinal.

The Firebirds remembered a narrow loss to the Bombers in the 2020 regional final. This time, in the regional semifinal, history would not repeat itself.

Goode scored a fourth-quarter touchdown and junior Tyler Bohn made two field goals (32 and 38 yards) as the Firebirds defeated the Bombers 12-2 at Princeton High School.

Lakota West (11-1) plays Moeller (10-3) in a Division I regional final Nov. 19 at a neutral location to be determined later.

"We know we had to grind to get to where we are now," said Goode, who rushed for 106 yards. "And then we've got three more games and we've got to finish."

Junior quarterback Mitch Bolden rushed for 82 yards and the Firebirds led 6-0 at halftime after the field goals.

The Lakota West defense had three interceptions, two by junior Joshua Fussell. Senior Jyaire Brown had an interception in the second quarter. Junior Malik Hartford had a team-leading 10 tackles while senior Aden Miller had seven tackles. Sophomore Elijah Davis had six tackles.

"I tell you we've got something really special going on in West Chester up at Lakota West," Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. "I'm telling you right now. In three years where we're at right now, a big statement win like this I couldn't be any more proud of these kids, this community. I mean everything."

The Firebirds lost to host St. Xavier 31-14 in the season opener Aug. 20 but these teams were much different after 12 weeks.

"We played there," Bolden said. "We just got healthier, we got better. These kids believe, this community believes. We aren't done yet obviously but it's a big step."

The Bombers completed a memorable season. St. X captured the Greater Catholic League South division title outright for a second straight season.

St. X was ranked No. 10 nationally in late September and started the season with a six-game win streak. Bombers running back Charles Kellom rushed for 121 yards and completed the season with 1,443 yards and 29 touchdowns overall, according to St. X football statistician Kelby Siler.

The Bombers had several other standouts this entire season including senior quarterback Brogan McCaughey and multiple other GCL South all-stars.

This was the third time that St. X and Lakota West played in the past 15 games.

"They played better tonight," St. X coach Steve Specht said. "They're a good football team, that defense of theirs is special, but I thought ours was too. I think our kids played hard."

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WEST CHESTER TWP., Ohio — Lakota West senior linebacker Aden Miller exemplifies what it means to be a captain for the Firebirds this season.

"I honestly think he's probably he's one of the most underrated high school football players here in Cincinnati," Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. "He's a 5-foot-11 mike backer [middle linebacker] that if he was probably two to three inches taller he'd probably have multiple D-I scholarship offers."

Miller, a three-year starter, has a team-leading 80 tackles (44 solo) for the Firebirds (10-1) who play St. Xavier (10-2) in a Division I regional semifinal Friday night at Princeton.

Lakota West is meeting St. X for a second time this season after the Bombers won 31-14 at home in the season opener Aug. 20.

"Man, I can't wait," Miller said. "I don't even know how to put it into words. Like I'm extremely excited. It's probably the biggest game of my life considering it could be my last but I don't plan on it being my last so been up all night thinking about it."

The Firebirds don't have to say much around practice this week in order to be motivated. They know about the task ahead of them and what's at stake for the program.

St. X defeated Lakota West 10-7 in the 2020 regional final before the Bombers went on to win the Division I state title.

The Firebirds have waited for another opportunity to play St. X in the regional tournament.

"We just know we need to handle business or we're done," Miller said. "Especially on my level because I don't have that many offers so I know that this really could be my last chance of playing football so I know what I got to do."

Jenny Walters Photography

Miller, 17, would like to play football at an NCAA Division I or II level. He'd like to earn a degree in kinesiology or exercise science and eventually become a physical therapist.

Bolden said a college program would benefit from having Miller in its program.

Miller has improved the Lakota West program by being a student-athlete who is a leader in the classroom, weight room and football field, Bolden said.

"He does everything you ask," Bolden said. "In the weight room, in the off-season, in the weight room during the season. He is strong. I mean it's impressive what he can do in the weight room. He's explosive. He never gets hurt, he never complains. He's just that guy."

Miller said he's grateful to be a captain with some of the most talented football players in the state and the nation.

That includes All-American Bowl commitments Jyaire Brown (defensive back/wide receiver) and Tegra Tshabola (offensive lineman) — both of whom are Ohio State verbal commitments — along senior defensive back/wide receiver Alex Afari (Kentucky), senior offensive lineman Lathan McComis and senior defensive lineman Bryan Henderson (Buffalo).

The chemistry among Miller and his teammates has been significant. That coincides with a family connection within the Lakota West football program. His elder brother, 2013 graduate Adam Miller, played defensive line for the Firebirds and is an avid follower of the team.

"It's been a fun season," Aden Miller said. "Just taking it one step at a time enjoying my last year. It's meant a lot to me in my life."

CINCINNATI — Taft High School football coach Tyler Williams held the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference championship plaque near the sideline Friday night and started the joyous celebration with his team.

"It's a special moment for my team, for my community, for my family," Williams said late Friday night.

"It's been a great, great journey with these young men right now. We dealt with a lot of adversity throughout this whole regular season, he said, adding, "Just seeing these young men continue to fight each and every day and continue to overcome the adversity that we had been faced with – it's been amazing to watch them grow as a team."

Taft defeated Woodward 34-20 Friday night to capture the CMAC Red division title in the first season for Williams as the Taft head coach.

"Coach Tyler continues to build on the football tradition here at Taft," Taft athletic director Romell Salone said.

"The kids have adjusted and are buying into what he is teaching on and off the field. Our kids are building life relationships and lessons and are really looking forward to the playoffs with hopes to build on the history."

The Senators (7-2, 5-0 CMAC) are projected to be the No. 1 seed in Division V, Region 20, according to Joe Eitel.

The Senators are projected to host No. 16 seed Madeira (4-6) in the first round at 7 p.m. Oct. 30. The Ohio High School Athletic Association plans to officially announce the playoff pairings Sunday afternoon.

Williams, a former Colerain High School star who played at the University of Akron and professionally in the Indoor Football League (IFL), was named the Taft coach in February.

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Williams was an assistant coach at Colerain and St. Xavier prior to Taft. His quick success at Taft this season is not a surprise to St. X head coach Steve Specht.

"Tyler has an innate ability to connect with kids and hold them to a higher standard," Specht said. "He's just scratching the surface. He'll be a great one."

Williams said the expectation this preseason was that winning the CMAC title is a "mandatory" step during the season for the program.

"We're winning it with structure, we're winning it with discipline, we're winning it with class," Williams said.

Taft had to overcome multiple injuries this season leading to the conference title, but Williams has emphasized a next player up mantra for the team to get stronger overall.

Williams mentioned multiple players who played well Friday night including junior running back Gavin Crawford, who had an estimated 200-plus yards rushing and five touchdowns.

Defensively, senior linebacker Everett Brown had a key interception. Senior Jakeim Sullivan has six interceptions this season while senior Keyandre Larry has eight interceptions.

Williams said his message to the team entering the playoffs this weekend is to stay patient before the official announcement on the pairings is made by the OHSAA on Sunday.

"Our kids are definitely putting themselves in a position to make a great run in the playoffs," Williams said.

The College Football Playoff National Championship is nearly here.

After the most unique college football season anyone can remember due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio State (7-0) is scheduled to play Alabama (12-0) Monday night in Miami.

The WCPO High School Insider delves into a Greater Cincinnati angle this week with a conversation with Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard.

The 2015 St. Xavier graduate discusses the "chaos" of this season while describing his six-year journey through the Buckeyes program and his role as captain this season.

Also, La Salle senior safety Jaylen Johnson (Ohio State signee) and defensive back Devonta Smith (Alabama signee) join the episode to describe their thoughts on the game and why they think their future respective programs will win the national title.

You will also hear from Fairfield football coach Jason Krause after Clemson offensive tackle and former Fairfield standout Jackson Carman declared for the NFL Draft Wednesday night.

Listen to this episode in the player above.

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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — St. Xavier football coach Steve Specht said the Bombers are still in the process of figuring out their identity as a team.

If Friday night was any indication, the Bombers are giving a strong first impression to the 2021 season, a year after winning the Division I state championship.

St. X scored 28 unanswered points in a 31-14 win over visiting Lakota West in front of 5,300 fans at Ballaban Field at RDI Stadium.

"Look at our cheering section," Specht said. "We've got 400 kids, 500 kids coming out to support their school's team. The band is playing tonight. This is living. What happened last year – these kids didn't get to live. They're living now. I think that's a bigger victory than anybody winning or losing on the field tonight is the fact that these kids get to compete again. That's exciting."

St. Xavier senior linebacker Grant Lyons, a Miami University verbal commitment, was named the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown MVP after two key interceptions, including a pick-six in the third quarter to give the Bombers (1-0) the lead for good.

"It was awesome," Lyons said. "I love playing out here with my guys. We work so hard all offseason and it showed up tonight. It was a lot of fun."

St. X, ranked No. 22 nationally by MaxPreps, took an early 3-0 lead when senior kicker Mason Rohmiller made a 27-yard field goal to complete a 13-play, 44-yard drive that took 3:47.

Lakota West struck twice in the second quarter and took a 14-3 lead midway through the quarter.

Junior quarterback Mitch Bolden found sophomore Brennan Remy for a 4-yard touchdown pass and senior Tyler Sparnall added the extra point at the 8:52 mark to give Lakota West a 7-0 lead.

The Firebirds took advantage of a St. X special teams turnover and capitalized.

Bolden found senior wide receiver Alex Afari in the corner of the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown pass connection to help give the Firebirds a 14-3 lead.

The Bombers closed the gap to 14-10 at halftime after senior running back Charles Kellom scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:24 left in the first half.

Lyons gave the Bombers the lead for good on his 27-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Brogan McCaughey found senior Max Klare for a 25-yard touchdown pass connection five minutes later to give St. X a 24-14 advantage.

Kellom scored on his second touchdown carry late in the fourth quarter to help give the Bombers a 31-14 lead.

McCaughey was 11 of 21 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown. Kellom rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Senior linebacker Max Bonner had a team-high eight tackles.

St. X plays at Colerain (0-1) Aug. 27.

Lakota West, which plays host to West Clermont (0-1) Aug. 27, couldn't find consistency on the offensive side in the second half.

Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said the Firebirds lost junior wide receiver Trent Lloyd to an injury in the first quarter and that impacted the offense.

Mitch Bolden, Tom's son, had 81 yards rushing and 103 yards passing. Senior linebacker Aden Miller had a game-high 10 tackles.

Bolden said he was proud of the Firebirds' effort, especially on the defensive side. He said several younger players gained experience, too.

The top-ranked team in the Blitz 5 Top 25 poll St. Xavier Bombers started off their season with a mark in the win column after overcoming an early 14-3 deficit to knock off the second-ranked Lakota West Firebirds 31-14 in Week 1 of the 2021 high school football season.

St. Xavier struck first in the opening quarter when Mason Rohmiller nailed a 27-yard field goal to put the Bombers up 3-0.

The Firebirds took over in the second quarter, however, when Mitch Bolden found Brennan Remy for a four-yard score, followed by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Bolden to Alex Afari from 30 yards out.

Just before the half, St. Xavier inched closer to the Firebirds with a five-yard scoring scamper from Charles Kellum, taking the halftime score to 14-10 in favor of Lakota West.

The second half was all Bombers, starting with a pick-six from Grant Lyons, returning it 24 yards to give St. Xavier the 17-14 lead. Lyons would go on to pick off another pass later in the game, finishing with two interceptions, a sack, and four solo tackles.

A 25-yard pass from Brogan McCaughey to Max Klare and a 13-yard rush from Kellum would scap off the 28-0 run for the Bombers, solidifying the 31-14 win.

McCaughey led the Bombers with 113 yards through the air and a touchdown. Charles Kellum went for 107 yards on the ground on 24 rushes and two touchdowns .

Mitch Bolden led the Firebirds both through the air and on the ground, going for 8-for-21, 103 yards and two touchdowns passing while contributing 81 yards on the ground.

SCORING BY QUARTERS

Lakota West 0-14-0-0-0

St. Xavier 3-7-14-7-0

SCORING PLAYS

St. X: Mason Rohmiller 27-yard FG (3-0)

LW: Mitch Bolden to Brennan Remy 4-yard pass (L 7, StX 3)

LW: Mitch Bolden to Alex Afari 30-yard pass (L 14, StX 3)

St. X: Charles Kellum 5-yrd run (L 14, StX 10)

St. X: Grant Lyons pick 6 (St. X 17, L 14)

St. X: Brogan McCaughey to Max Klare 25-yard pass (St. X 24, L 14)

St. X: Kellum 13-yard run (St. X 31, L 14)

RECORDS: Lakota West (0-1); St. Xavier (1-0)

UP NEXT: Lakota West vs. West Clermont; St. Xavier at Colerain

*Stay updated on high school football updates by following @TSFootball on Twitter.

CINCINNATI — Tyler Williams can't wait to get started as the Taft High School head football coach.

"I love it," Williams told WCPO Friday night.

"It's just a great opportunity for me. It's an even better opportunity for these young men because I get to give all the knowledge that I've received over the past years at the programs I've been at."

Williams, a former Colerain High School standout who played at the University of Akron and professionally in the Indoor Football League (IFL), was named the Senators' coach on Friday night.

Williams succeeds Jeff Cargile, who was relieved of his duties earlier this school year.

Williams plans to meet the team next week. He said he's looking forward to engaging the community, too.

"Coach Williams' passion and energy for football and his focus on developing our student-athletes make him the ideal fit for our program, school and community," Taft principal Ceair Baggett said in a statement.

Taft, a Division V, Region 20 program, has six consecutive postseason appearances. Taft had a 4-2 record in 2020. All participating Ohio teams were eligible for the playoffs in 2020.

Williams said several family members attended Taft including his father, Terrell Williams, who is the halfbacks and strength training coach at St. Xavier. Tyler Williams also has grandparents, aunts and uncles who attended the school.

"They bleed green and gold and that's all I heard growing up," Williams said. "Having the opportunity to coach there - I had to jump on it. It's great for me and my family and I'm very excited to be a part of this success, this journey," Williams said.

Tyler Williams, a 2011 graduate, had been Colerain's offensive coordinator the past two seasons.

Prior to that, he coached the running backs and punt returners at St. Xavier in 2017 and 2018. Williams was also the Colerain quarterbacks and running backs coach in 2016.

Williams credited Lakota West coach Tom Bolden, Colerain coach Shawn Cutright and St. Xavier coach Steve Specht for helping him to be prepared to be a head coach.

"I think the world of Tyler Williams," Specht said. "He's a carbon copy of his father, Terrell. He cares deeply about people and understands kids. Taft is fortunate to have him. He will make a difference."

Williams earned several accomplishments as a high school, college and pro player. He earned several individual honors in high school and had a 30-5 record at Colerain during a time that included him playing quarterback and running back.

He was third in kick return yards in the Mid-American Conference as a true freshman at Akron in 2012, according to a news release.

He also had several postseason and career IFL honors. He had 2,554 all-purpose yards in the IFL in 2017 as a kicker returner and running back.

"His many accomplishments both on and off the field speak for themselves," Taft High School said in a statement Friday night.