WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Lakota West senior quarterback Mitch Bolden started his 33rd career game Friday night, but he's never experienced a more memorable 48 minutes.
"Senior year — this is probably the best game I've ever been a part of," Bolden said. "I'm glad it's happened my senior year and I can experience all of it."
Bolden led the Firebirds on a game-winning drive that culminated with a 2-yard touchdown pass to senior Ben Minich with 21 seconds left as Lakota West rallied to defeat visiting St. Xavier 16-13.
"Honestly, I didn't see him catch it," said Bolden, who improved to 27-6 as a starter. "All I saw was the referee's hands go up and that was the best moment ever. That was probably the best moment I've ever had in a football game."
Minich, a safety on defense, knew it was now or never on offense.
"It was huge," Minich said. "We were down the whole game and then to come back and end it like that - that's a good way to end it."
An estimated 4,900 watched the game in West Chester Township. But it was quiet for a good portion of the first two quarters on the Lakota West side of the stadium as the Bombers led 13-0 at halftime.
"Wow, a tale of two halves," said Lakota West coach Tom Bolden, the father of Mitch Bolden. "A great performance by our kids. So proud that they stuck with it. So proud of the coaches."
Tom Bolden said he told the Firebirds at halftime it was the "worst half of football I'd ever been a part of." He admitted a few chairs were broken in the locker room at halftime as he tried to inspire the team in the second half.
"We weren't satisfied," said Mitch Bolden. "There were some chairs broken, I'm not even kidding. We knew that we had to be physical the second half and play football. We weren't playing football. And we ended up doing that. So those chairs were made to be broken I guess."
Lakota West responded in the second half.
Senior kicker Tyler Bohn made a 25-yard field goal to get the Firebirds (1-0) on the board with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter.
The Firebirds made it 13-9 when Mitch Bolden junior Brennan Remy for a 47-yard touchdown pass connection with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter.
Lakota West earned one last opportunity with 3:39 left at their own 25-yard line. Bolden converted a fourth down on a run up the middle. The Firebirds had a few chances in the red zone before the touchdown pass connection with Bolden and Minich, who is verbally committed to Notre Dame.
That game-winning drive was 13 plays and 75 yards while it took 3:18.
"It's great to leave with a win but we didn't play our best," Bolden said. "I didn't play my best. I don't believe I played my best at all. That transition from week one to week two is a great learning period and I think we will be better next week."
Remy finished with six receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. Bolden threw two touchdown passes and rushed for 69 yards.
Defensively, senior linebacker Mike Brankamp had eight tackles unofficially while junior linebacker Jacob Asbeck had seven tackles.
St. X junior quarterback Jack O'Malley was 11 of 19 passing for 184 yards and a touchdown. Senior wide receiver Jamaal Sharp had five receptions for 153 yards including a 60-yarder in the first half. Senior linebacker PJ Rose had a game-high 10 tackles.
Friday night marked the fourth time the two teams have played going back to the 2020 Division I regional final.
St. X (0-1) travels to the Chicago area to play Loyola Academy Aug. 28 in a game that is scheduled to be televised on ESPN. Lakota West travels to Lakota East Aug. 26 to start the Greater Miami Conference schedule.
