WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The Lakota West High School football team heard plenty of hype this week regarding Friday night's game against visiting Princeton.

"We didn't want to talk about it; we were just going to be about it, is what I told the kids," Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. "We let our game speak for itself tonight. Bottom line."

The Firebirds defeated Princeton 24-0, scoring all of its points in the first half, en route to their third consecutive win this season.

Friday night was also Bolden's 150th career win, according to the Lakota West athletic department. Bolden, in his third season at Lakota West, has a 150-27 career record in 16 years.

"A lot of fun," Bolden said when asked about the career milestone. "150 - that's pretty wild. A lot of great players. A lot of great memories with those players and coaches. That's pretty cool."

Lakota West (3-1, 2-0 Greater Miami Conference) had plenty of offensive firepower to start the game. Junior quarterback Mitch Bolden – Tom's son – found junior Ben Minich for a 49-yard pass connection in the first play from scrimmage.

The drive was completed when junior Tyler Bohn made a 37-yard field goal to give the Firebirds a 3-0 lead at the 7:27 mark of the first quarter.

Lakota West forced Princeton on a three-and-out on its opening drive before Mitch Bolden scored on a 41-yard touchdown run with 2:19 left in the first quarter to help give the Firebirds a 10-0 lead.

Lakota West junior defensive back Joshua Fussell's interception early in the second quarter helped to set up the Firebirds' third score of the night.

Bolden found senior running back Cameron Goode on a 16-yard screen pass to help give the Firebirds a 17-0 lead at the 6:55 mark of the second quarter.

Goode had 16 carries for 92 yards and the touchdown reception.

"They blitzed, just rolled to the left, and I just knew I wasn't going to get touched," Goode said.

Bolden threw his second touchdown pass of the night late in the second quarter when he connected with senior Jyaire Brown for an 18-yard score to help give the Firebirds a 24-0 halftime lead.

Lakota West had 299 yards of total offense. The Firebirds' defense limited Princeton to 45 yards passing.

Lakota West senior linebacker Aden Miller had a team-high 11 tackles.

"It was a very hyped game, but we just came here and balled out and calmed down," said senior defensive back Alex Afari. "Our coaches told us, 'Don't make this a bigger game than it should be.'"

Princeton (3-1, 0-1 GMC) was led by sophomore quarterback TJ Engleman, who had 25 carries for 95 yards. Senior linebacker AJ Nunley had a team-high 11 tackles, including one sack and a forced fumble.

Princeton coach Andre Parker said after the game the Vikings would continue to improve this season and he is confident the Vikings are going in the right direction.

Parker and Bolden said their respective teams need to clean up the penalties. Princeton and Lakota West were penalized nine teams each Friday night.

Princeton plays host to Fairfield Sept. 17. Lakota West is scheduled to play at Hamilton Sept. 17.

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — There is no debate that Lakota West senior offensive tackle Tegra Tshabola is one of the nation's top high school football players in the 2022 class.

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound offensive lineman is verbally committed to The Ohio State University.

This past May, he committed to the prestigious All-American Bowl.

What may not be as commonly known is the 17-year-old with size 17 shoes speaks fluent French.

His family moved to West Chester Township more than a dozen years ago from the Democratic Republic of Congo where French is spoken. Tshabola had to learn English because French was his first language and is still spoken in his family.

"People usually don't know but then when they see me speak with my parents sometimes they look at me funny," Tshabola said.

Football has been also a common language in the Tshabola family for a number of years.

Tshabola has two elder brothers, Dan, a 2018 Lakota West graduate and former defensive lineman, and Michael, a 2016 graduate and former linebacker, who played for the Firebirds.

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Tegra used to stand next to the stadium bleachers as a young football player watching the Lakota West games while listening to the coaching staff instruct the team. He did everything he could to learn about the game from his brothers.

"They both played really hard," Tshabola said. "They taught me to play every play like it's your last so when I'm out here playing football I finish out every play."

Tshabola has had quite the journey since his freshman season when he played on the defensive line to his junior season when he was named a Division I first-team all-state offensive lineman.

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"He was a basketball kid, a good basketball player," said Lakota West coach Tom Bolden, who arrived at Lakota West for the 2019 season.

"He always had that athleticism but just everything was just so raw and not refined. Now he really works at his craft and his pass pro and his run blocking and all that. He's really, really stepped up and he's become a complete football player from the standpoint that it's not just him bullying people around. He's using the skill set that he has now."

Soft-spoken and unassuming off the field, Tshabola is imposing between the lines. He's seen defensive linemen do anything possible to try to avoid his blocking. Tshabola said he is patient in waiting to put his hands on a defender in a game and perfecting his craft in practice.

"I'm an offensive lineman so I like hitting so you get to come out here, you get to grind it out,"
Tshabola said.

"You get to work with your friends that you see every day. Come out here and all work to achieve the same goal."

Tshabola embraced his role as a captain and has made it a point to help younger players this season.

"This program I've learned that when you really want something you got to really put in the work if you want to get somewhere far in life," Tshabola said. "I've definitely bought into that. I've been working hard trying to get up to Ohio State soon in January."

Tshabola will graduate from Lakota West in December and join Ohio State as an early enrollee in January.

"He's got the tools," Lakota West offensive line coach Jeff Wadl said. "He's obviously got the size. But, he's got the strength and he works hard in the weight room so he's got a good work ethic there. I think what I've really seen him do this year is be more cognizant of his technique and things he needs to do especially at the next level."

Bolden said Tshabola's best football days are ahead of him.

"It will be really cool to see in a couple of years from now with a couple college seasons under his belt what he does," Bolden said. "Because like I said I think he's gotten better each year and I think the sky is the limit with him."

Tshabola, who has worked with Bengals great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz, would like to play in the NFL. He'd also like to help others along the way.

"My biggest goal is to train other athletes, train other kids," Tshabola said. "My dream is to have a training facility, like a big national training facility for people to come to."