WEST CHESTER TWP. — Tom Bolden can’t contain his excitement. The second-year Lakota West High football coach is thrilled to be able to watch his Firebirds hit the field under the Friday Night Lights.
And there’s a good amount of anticipation in the air heading into Week 1 for all the right reasons.
“I’m excited to see where we’re at right now and where we’re going to be,” Bolden said. “We’re fired up, and I want to get this thing going.”
The Firebirds, who went 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the Greater Miami Conference last season before falling to Elder in the opening round of the Division I playoffs, get things going Friday night in an anticipated meeting against Bolden’s former team — Colerain.
“I think our kids are ready to get after somebody different other than their teammates,” Bolden said. “This one’s going to be one for the ages.”
KEY STARTERS
Mitch Bolden — “With our two quarterbacks getting injured last year, I think Mitch stepped in and did a great job. He’s gotten bigger and stronger, and he’s a tough kid,” Tom Bolden said of his son, a sophomore. As a freshman, Mitch was the starting quarterback in eight of Lakota West’s 11 games.
Tegra Tshabola — “The guy is who he is,” Bolden said of Tshabola, a junior Ohio State commit. “He comes from a big family. So he knows exactly what he’s doing out there.” He’s one of the highest-ranked offensive linemen in the nation.
Jyaire Brown — A junior transfer from Louisiana who used to live in Cincinnati, Brown is a top-ranked cornerback and also heading to Ohio State.
Alex Afari — The junior has multiple offers to Division I college programs, and he will immediately make his presence felt in 2020, according to Bolden.
Aneesh Vyas — Receiving all-conference, first-team honors last season, the senior returns on the defensive line.
Ed Bolden — A senior offensive lineman, Ed Bolden received second-team, all-conference a season ago.
Jackson Kuwatch — A senior linebacker, Kuwatch got an all-conference, second-team nod as a junior.
QUOTABLES
“I think our defense did a phenomenal job last year, and we’re going to continue that next step there,” Bolden said. “I like the direction we started in last year. There was a little hiccup, but we got things going.”
“I’m looking forward to this season,” Tshabola said during preseason workouts. “We’re working hard to make sure we get to where we need to be.”
KEY GRADUATES
David Afari, Hunter Anderson, Garren Carter, Daved Jones, Truman Mason, Jake Kieffer and Isaac Kolosik.
2020 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (6-game)
Aug. 28, at Colerain
Sept. 4, Hamilton
Sept. 11, at Sycamore
Sept. 18, at Fairfield
Sept. 25, Oak Hills
Oct. 2, Mason
