The wheels fell off for the Firebirds on their next possession when a fumble by quarterback Taylor Breen was scooped up and returned 41 yards for a touchdown by Colerain senior linebacker Jared Marks.

A three-and-out possession by Lakota West deep in their own territory resulted in a 4-play, 40-yard yard capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Dominique Sherrer and the ‘Cards pushed their lead out to 30-0 in a four-minute span.

The blitzkrieg ended with a 53-yard touchdown run by Sims and a 45-yard interception for a touchdown by Christian Wilson.

A Colerain defense that is giving up just 8.4 points a game this season was stifling once again.  Along with posting their second straight shutout and their two scores, they held Lakota West to 208 yards of total offense and recorded seven sacks led by Brandon Mills’ 4 ½.

An offense that was sluggish in the first half ended with 368 yards of total offense.  Reynolds threw for 159 yards on 13-of-16 attempts and one touchdown and added 18 yards rushing on six carries.  Sims caught five passes for 53 yards with a touchdown and added another 58 yards rushing on three carries. Sherrer led the rushing attack with 74 yards on 14 carries.

For Lakota West, Breen ended the night with 92 yards passing on 11-of-23 attempts.  Dwight Phillips gained 57 yards on nine carries.

The first half was the polar opposite of the second.  The Firebirds hung tough and it was a scoreless game until Colerain senior running back Joseph Harrison scored on an 8-yard touchdown run at the 4:21 mark of the second quarter. 

A blocked punt by Colerain’s Nicholas Priessman on the Firebirds’ next possession was recovered by the Cardinals at the Firebirds’ 41-yard line.  Colerain drove to the 8-yard line but with time running out, Mark Tabar booted a 25-yard field goal with five seconds before halftime for a 10-0 lead.