The Varsity Football team opened their season on Friday night for an exciting game against the Centerville Elks. The stadium was packed with fans eager to see the match. Lakota East, a team that had struggled last year with a 1-9 record, showed that they had improved a lot this season.

The game started with the Elks taking the opening kickoff. They managed to get one first down but had to punt. However, East fumbled the punt, and Centerville recovered it at the East 15-yard line. Junior quarterback Shane Cole quickly took advantage of this opportunity by throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to senior Jacob Taylor. This put the Elks up 7-0 with 7:52 left in the first quarter.

Lakota East responded late in the first quarter with a 75-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7-7. Early in the second quarter, Cole connected with junior Quincy Capogna for a 49-yard touchdown pass, putting the Elks ahead 14-7 with 11:44 left in the first half.

East then drove down to the Elks’ 20-yard line, but Centerville's defense held strong, forcing a field goal attempt. The Elks blocked the field goal, and senior Matt Jones returned it 45 yards to the East 25-yard line. Despite battling cramps, senior kicker Leland Gantz nailed a 41-yard field goal, increasing the Elks' lead to 17-7 with 8:27 left in the first half.

Lakota East answered with an 8-yard touchdown pass, closing the gap to 17-14 at halftime.

In the second half, Lakota East drove down to Centerville's 10-yard line, but the Elks’ defense stepped up again. Senior Brady Seeley made a huge sack, stopping the Thunderhawks’ momentum. Both teams' defenses dominated for the next few possessions. The Elks fumbled the ball to Lakota East, but Quincy Robinson intercepted an East pass, giving the Elks the ball back. Cole then hit Capogna for a 39-yard pass, and junior Parker Johnson ran it in from 1 yard out, putting the Elks ahead 24-14 with 49 seconds left in the third quarter.

With 5:27 left in the game, Lakota East scored another touchdown, cutting the Elks' lead to 24-21. But Centerville's offense responded with an 80-yard drive, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Cole to junior Ryan Swanson, making it 31-21 with 2:35 left. The Elks’ defense took over from there, securing a big win for Centerville.

Senior Jamison Kitna was 26/42 for 297 yards and a TD. Chauncey Peck rushed for 45 yards on 11 carries. Zion Neal had 6 catches for 119 yards and a TD. Peck caught 6 passes for 55 yards and a TD. Patrick MacFarlane caught a Kitna TD sling as well on 5 catches for 33 yards.

East's JV football beat Lakota East 21-12 but the Freshmen team defeated the Elks 29-28.

Next up, East will host Mason this Friday. The Comets fell at Gahanna Lincoln last Friday by a score of 24-10.